Jean Marie Napoléon Désiré Nisard (20 March 1806 – 27 March 1888) was a French author and

literary critic Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. ...

. He was born at

Châtillon-sur-Seine Châtillon-sur-Seine (, ) is a commune of the Côte-d'Or department, eastern France. The Musée du Pays Châtillonnais is housed in old abbey of Notre-Dame de Châtillon, within the town, known for its collection of pre-Roman and Roman relic ...

Career

In 1826 he joined the staff of the '' Journal des Débats'', but subsequently transferred his pen to the ''National''. Under the

empire An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...

he was inspector-general of education (1852) and director of the École normal (1857–1867). Nisard's literary reputation was established by his ''Histoire de la littérature française'' (1844–1861). This work helped to secure his election to the

Académie Française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

in 1850 as seat 39. His other works include ''Études d'histoire et de littérature'' (1859–1864), and ''Les Quatres grands historiens latins'' (1875). In all his books Nisard vigorously supported the claims of

classicism Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for a classical period, classical antiquity in the Western tradition, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. In its purest form, classicism is an aesthet ...

against

romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

. He is the object of the loathing of the narrator in the

postmodern Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or Rhetorical modes, mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by philosophical skepticism, skepticis ...

book '' Démolir Nisard'', by the French writer

Eric Chevillard The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

Death

Nisard died at San Remo in 1888.

Memorials

The school Lycée polyvalent Désiré Nisard in

was named after Nisard.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nisard, Desire 1806 births 1888 deaths People from Châtillon-sur-Seine Burials at Montparnasse Cemetery Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur 19th-century French historians French literary critics Members of the Académie Française French male non-fiction writers 19th-century French male writers