An enormous literary force at the beginning of this century; M. E.
Faguet calls him the "greatest date in French letters since the
Pleiad." But the instrument of his power was prose. His attempts in
verse were poor. Yet he exercised a direct influence towards the
renewal of lyric poetry, as has been indicated in the introduction.
For reference: E. Faguet, _Études littéraires sur le dix-neuvième
siècle_, 1887 ; F. Brunetière, _l'Évolution de la poésie lyrique au
dix-neuvième siècle_, vol. i, 1894.
39. LE MONTAGNARD EXILÉ. Introduced into the prose tale, _le Dernier
des Abencérages_ (1807). "J'en avais composé les paroles pour un air
des montagnes d'Auvergne remarquable par sa douceur et sa simplicité."
(Author's note.) 24. la Dore, a rapid stream in the department Puy-
de-Dôme, flowing into the Allier. 27. l'airain, i.e. the bell.
MARIE-ANTOINE DÉSAUGIERS.
1772-1827.
He represents a domain of the lyric that has always been industriously
tilled in France, that of the chanson. The tradition of the song
is distinctly bacchanalian, and rarely has it claimed serious
consideration as literature. But Désaugiers now and then foreshadows
the larger and more serious treatment the _chanson_ was to receive at
the hands of Béranger and Dupont.
Works: _Chansons et Poésies diverses_, 3 vols., 1808-1816; a _Choix de
chansons_ appeared in 1858; another in 1859, and others since.
For reference: Sainte-Beuve, _Portraits contemporains_, vol. v; George
Saintsbury, _Miscellaneous Essays_, London, 1892.
CHARLES NODIER.
1780-1844.
Promoted the romantic movement by his personal contact with the group
of young writers that he drew around him more than by what he himself
wrote. He was one of those who felt and transmitted the influence of
Germany. He is better known by his stories than by his verse.
Works : _Essais d'un jeune barde_, 1804 ; _Poésies diverses_, 1827.
For reference : Mme. Mennessier-Nodier, _Charles Nodier, épisodes et
souvenirs de sa vie_, 1867 ; Sainte-Beuve, _Portraits littéraires_,
vol. i.
PIERRE-JEAN DE BÉRANGER.
1780-1857.
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