Recollections of My Youth

"Recollections of My Youth" by Ernest Renan is a memoir written in the late 19th century that reflects on the author's childhood and formative experiences in Brittany, France. The narrative serves as a retrospective exploration of Renan's youth, touching on themes of nostalgia, spirituality, and the cultural essence of Brittany. Through personal anecdotes, he captures the complex interplay between his early life in a religious community and his intellectual development. The opening of the memoir sets a contemplative tone, as Renan introduces the legend of the submerged city of Is, which symbolizes the elusive nature of memory. He expresses a desire to revisit his childhood, although he acknowledges that his recollections will not form a linear narrative but rather a collection of impressions and reflections. Through vivid descriptions of his upbringing in Tréguier, the author highlights the spiritual and idealistic influences of his surroundings, from the imposing cathedral to the revered clergy who shaped his moral compass. The narrative delves into his childhood experiences, relationships, and the gradual awakening of his intellectual curiosity, setting the stage for a profound exploration of his transitional journey from innocence to experience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Joseph Ernest Renan was a French Orientalist and Semitic scholar, writing on Semitic languages and civilizations, historian of religion, philologist, philosopher, biblical scholar, and critic. He wrote works on the origins of early Christianity, and espoused popular political theories especially concerning nationalism, national identity, and the alleged superiority of White people over other human "races". Renan is known as being among the first scholars to advance the debunked Khazar theory, which held that Ashkenazi Jews were descendants of the Khazars, Turkic peoples who had adopted the Jewish religion and allegedly migrated to central and eastern Europe following the collapse of their khanate.