About
Louis-Sébastien Mercier (1740-1814) was a prolific French writer, known for his major work, Le Tableau de Paris (1781-1789), a vast panorama of Parisian life. Influenced by Rousseau, he wrote plays, novels, and essays. His futuristic novel L'An 2440 (1770) is a precursor to science fiction. Involved in the Revolution, he was a deputy to the Convention, voted against the death of Louis XVI, and was imprisoned during the Terror. He also defended linguistic freedom in Néologie (1801).
* 1740-06-06 — † 1814-04-25
Major works
- L'An 2440 (1770)novel
- Le Tableau de Paris (1781-1789)essay
- La Brouette du vinaigrier (1775)play
- Du théâtre (1773)essay
- Néologie (1801)essay
Key milestones
- 1740Born in Paris on June 6.
- 1789Publication of the last volume of Tableau de Paris.
- 1793Voted against the death penalty for Louis XVI.
Themes
urban lifeutopiarealistic theaterlinguistic freedomsocial criticism
Sources: britannica.com · data.bnf.fr · oxfordreference.com