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Marie Joseph Alfred Croiset (5 January 1845 – 7 June 1923) was a French classical philologist.


Biography

Born in Paris, Alfred Croiset, son of the teacher and classical philologist (François) Paul Croiset (1814-1897), attended the '' Lycée Charlemagne'' from 1855 to 1859 and then until 1864 the '' Lycée Louis-le-Grand'' in Paris. His brother Maurice (1846–1935), who was one year younger, also became an important classical philologist, and the brothers often worked together. Alfred Croiset began studying classical philology at the '' École normale supérieure'' in 1864, which he graduated in 1867. In the following ten years he taught at various ''lycées'' in France (1867 Chambéry, 1868 Nevers, 1871 Montauban, 1871 '' Collège Stanislas'' in Paris, 1874 '' Lycée Charlemagne'' in Paris). This activity was only interrupted twice, first in 1870 during his mobilization for the Franco-Prussian War, then again in 1873 during his doctorate with the thesis ''Xénophon, son caractère et son talent'' at the Sorbonne . In 1877 he moved to the Sorbonne as ''maître de conférences'' , where he completed his thesis ''De personis apud Aristophanem'' in 1880, and in 1885 he became a professor there. In 1886 he became a member of the '' Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres'' . From 1898 to 1919 he was dean of the '' Faculté des lettres''. After leaving the position, he received the title of dean hc. He was on leave and in 1921 retired. He died in Paris in 1923. In 1887 he became a Knight, in 1897 an Officer, in 1901 a Commander, and in 1913 a Grand Officer of the
Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
. Croiset devoted himself mainly to Greek literature. His critical edition of Plato's ''Dialogues'', co- edited with Louis Bodin, is still used today. In addition, he dealt with Pindar, Thucydides as well as Xenophon and Aristophanes. With his brother he wrote a widely read Greek literary history, which also became the basis of a manual. Together with his writings on democracy education, it was particularly well received and widely used in the United States. His efforts to reform teaching as well as his many years of work as dean led to opposition with anti-modernist circles, who accused him of the "scientization" and "Germanization" of the humanities. Henri Massis was one of the critics from student circles . Croiset's students included Paul Mazon, Auguste Diès, and
Gustave Glotz Gustave Glotz (17 February 1862, Haguenau, Bas-Rhin – 16 April 1935, Paris) was a French historian of ancient Greece. He was a supporter of the theory that history never follows a simple, logical course. Glotz studied at the École normale ...
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Selected works

* ''De personis apud Aristophanem.'' Dissertation Paris 1873 ( online). * With Maurice Croiset: ''Histoire de la littérature grecque.'' 5 vols, Paris 1887–1899 ** Volume 1, 1887, online, Volume 2, 1890, online, Volume 3, 1891, online, Volume 4, 1895, online, Volume 5, 1899, online ** English translation: ''An abridged history of Greek literature'', Macmillan 1904 ( online). * ''La poésie de Pindare et les lois du lyrisme grec.'' Paris 1880 ( online). * ''Les démocraties antiques.'' Paris 1909 ( online).


References

* ''Alfred Croiset.'' In: ''Bulletin de l’Association Guillaume Budé'' 1923, p. 31–33
online
. *
Ferdinand Lot Ferdinand Victor Henri Lot ( Le Plessis Piquet, 20 September 1866 – Fontenay-aux-Roses, 20 July 1952) was a French historian and medievalist. His masterpiece, '' The End of the Ancient World and the Beginnings of the Middle Ages'' (1927), ...
: ''Notice sur la vie et les travaux de M. Alfred Croiset.'' In: ''Comptes rendus des séances de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres'' 1929, p. 362–384
online
. * Charle Christophe: ''Les professeurs de la faculté des lettres de Paris. Dictionnaire biographique 1809–1908''. Paris 1986, p. 47–48
online
. *Hans-Ulrich Berner, Valeria Lily: ''Croiset, Alfred.'' in Peter Kuhlmann, Helmuth Schneider (eds.): ''History of the ancient sciences. Biographical Lexicon'' (= ''The New Pauly . Supplements.'' Volume 6). Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2012, , Col. 254 f. {{DEFAULTSORT:Croiset, Alfred 1845 births 1923 deaths French philologists French classical scholars Classical philologists Grand Officiers of the Légion d'honneur École Normale Supérieure alumni University of Paris alumni Members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Members of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres Corresponding Fellows of the British Academy