About
Prosper Mérimée, born in Paris in 1803, was a French writer, historian and archaeologist. After studying law, he devoted himself to languages and literature. Inspector-General of Historical Monuments from 1830, he helped protect sites such as Carcassonne and the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris. Elected to the Académie française in 1844, he also served as a senator of the Second Empire. Author of famous novellas like Colomba and Carmen, he was also a pioneer in translating Russian literature into French. He died in Cannes in 1870.
* 1803-09-28 — † 1870-09-23
Major works
- Le Théâtre de Clara Gazul (1825)play collection
- La Guzla (1827)poetry collection
- Chronique du temps de Charles IX (1829)historical novel
- Colomba (1840)novella
- Carmen (1845)novella
Key milestones
- 1830Appointed Inspector-General of Historical Monuments.
- 1844Elected to the Académie française.
- 1853Becomes a senator of the Second Empire and close to Empress Eugénie.
Themes
Passion and jealousyRevenge and honorExoticism and travelHistory and heritageLiterary hoax
Sources: britannica.com · columbia.edu