Delsarte System of Oratory by Delaumosne

(4 User reviews)   4166
By Charlotte Girard Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Delaumosne Delaumosne
English
Hey, I just finished the weirdest book. It's called 'Delsarte System of Oratory' and it's this old manual from the 1800s about how to use your body to speak. But it's not just about public speaking. It claims every single emotion and thought has a specific physical pose or gesture. Want to show 'intellectual ecstasy'? There's a pose for that. 'Suppressed rage'? That's a different one. It reads like a secret codebook for the human body, written with absolute seriousness. It's equal parts fascinating, unintentionally funny, and a little spooky. If you've ever wondered what people in the 19th century thought was the 'correct' way to look profound, this is your bizarre, must-read answer.
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Chapter IX. Of Gesture in Relation to the Figures Which Represent It. Part Third. Articulate Language. Chapter I. Origin and Organic Apparatus of Language. Chapter II. Elements of Articulate Language. Chapter III. The Oratorical Value of Speech. Chapter IV. The Value of Words in Phrases. The Conjunction--The Interjection in Relation to its Degree of Value--A Resumé of the Degrees of Value Chapter V. French and Latin Prosody Chapter VI. Method. Dictation Exercises Chapter VII. A Series Of Gestures For Exercises. Preliminary Reflections--The Series of Gestures Applied to the Sentiments Oftenest Expressed by the Orator: (1) Interpellation; (2) Thanks, Affectionate and Ceremonious; (3) Attraction; (4) Surprise and Assurance; (5) Devotion; (6) Interrogative Surprise; (7) Reiterated Interrogation; (8) Anger; (9) Menace; (10) An Order for Leaving; (11) Reiteration; (12) Fright--Important Remarks Appendix Epilogue Arnaud On Delsarte. Part Fourth. Chapter I. The Bases of the Science Chapter II. The Method. Ellipsis--Shades and Inflections--Vocal Music--Respiration--Position of the Tone--Preparation of the Initial Consonant--Exercises-- Appoggiatura--Roulades and Martellato--Pronunciation--E mute before a Consonant--E mute before a Vowel. Chapter III. Was Delsarte a Philosopher? Chapter IV. Course of Applied Æsthetics. Meeting of the Circle of Learned Societies--Theory of the Degrees. Chapter V. The Recitation of Fables. Chapter VI. The Law of Æsthetics. Chapter VII. The Elements of Art. The True. The Good. The Beautiful. Chapter VIII. Application of the Law to Various Arts. Dramatic, Lyric and Oratorical Art. Application of the Law to Literature. Application of the Law to Architecture. Application of the Law to Sculpture. Application of the Law to Painting. Chapter IX. Delsarte's Beginnings. Chapter X. Delsarte's Theatre and School. Chapter XI. Delsarte's Family. Chapter XII. Delsarte's Religion. Chapter XIII. Delsarte's Friends. Chapter XIV. Delsarte's Scholars. Chapter XV. Delsarte's Musical Compositions. Chapter XVI. Delsarte's Evening Lectures. Chapter XVII. Delsarte's Inventions. Chapter XVIII. Delsarte before the Philotechnic Association. Chapter XIX. Delsarte's Last Years. Literary Remains Of François Delsarte. Part Fifth. Publisher's Note. Delsarte's Last Letter To The King Of Hanover Episode I. Episode II. Episode III. Episode IV. Episode V. Semeiotics of the Shoulder. Episode VI. Episode VII. What I Propose. The Beautiful. Trinity. Reversal of Processional Relations. Passion of Signs, Signs of Passion. Definition of Form. On Distinction and Vulgarity of Motion. Gesture. Definition of Gesture. Attitudes of the Head. Attitudes of the Hands. Affirmation of the Hand. Table of the Normal Character of the Nine Attitudes. Attitudes of the Legs. The Holy Trinity Recovered in Sound. Speech. Breathing. Vocal Respiration. Logical Respiration. Passional Respiration. Vocal Organ. Definition Of The Voice. What the Register is. On Shading. Pathetic Effects. On the Tearing of the Voice. Number. Medallion of Inflection. The Nature of the Colors of Each Circle in the Color Charts. The Attributes of Reason. Random Notes. Part Sixth. The Lecture and Lessons Given by Mme. Marie Géraldy (Delsarte's Daughter) in America. Part Seventh. Article by Alfred Giraudet. Article by Francis A. Durivage. Article by Hector Berlioz. Delaumosne On Delsarte. The Delsarte System, by M. l'Abbe Delaumosne, (_Pupil of Delsarte._) Translated by Frances A. Shaw. François Delsarte. François Delsarte was born November 11, 1811, at Solesme, a little town of the Department of the North, in France. His father, who was a renowned physician and the author of several inventions, might have secured a fortune for his family, had he been more anxious for the morrow, but he died in a state bordering upon poverty. In 1822, François was apprenticed to a porcelain painter of Paris, but, yielding to a taste and aptitude for music, in the year 1825, he sought and obtained admission to the Conservatory as a pensioner. Here a great trial awaited him--a trial...

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Forget everything you know about modern communication guides. Delsarte System of Oratory isn't about crafting the perfect speech. It's a detailed, almost scientific breakdown of the human body as an emotional instrument. The author, Delaumosne, acts as a translator for the system created by François Delsarte, mapping out a rigid framework where specific poses of the head, torso, arms, and hands correspond to exact mental states.

The Story

There's no traditional plot here. Instead, the book is a journey into a forgotten theory. It systematically catalogs human expression, breaking it down into zones (the intellectual head, the emotional torso, the vital lower body) and assigning meaning to every tilt, turn, and gesture. It presents a world where if you master these physical 'laws,' you can project any feeling with perfect clarity, whether on stage or in a drawing room.

Why You Should Read It

Reading this is a trip. One minute you're nodding along at an insightful point about how posture affects presence, and the next you're chuckling at the ultra-specific instruction for depicting 'lyric grief.' It's a powerful reminder of how our ideas about body language have changed. You start seeing the ghost of this system in old portraits and silent films. It made me hyper-aware of my own gestures and what they might be 'saying' in Delsarte's strict code.

Final Verdict

This isn't a practical guide for today's speaker. It's a fascinating historical artifact. Perfect for anyone curious about theater history, Victorian culture, or the quirky corners of old knowledge. If you enjoy primary sources that show how people in the past tried to make sense of the world—in ways that can seem both brilliant and utterly strange to us now—you'll find this short book totally absorbing.



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Jennifer Rodriguez
6 months ago

A bit long but worth it.

Jennifer Lopez
5 months ago

Compatible with my e-reader, thanks.

Edward Brown
8 months ago

After finishing this book, the pacing is just right, keeping you engaged. A true masterpiece.

Jessica Nguyen
4 weeks ago

Read this on my tablet, looks great.

5
5 out of 5 (4 User reviews )

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