Edmond François Valentin About (14 February 182816 January 1885) was a

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

publicist A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a company, a brand, or public figure – especially a celebrity – or for work or a project such as a book, film, or album. Publicists are public relations specialists wh ...

and

journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

Biography

About was born at

Dieuze Dieuze (; ) is a commune in the Moselle department, Grand Est region, France. Population People Dieuze was the birthplace of: *Charles Hermite, mathematician *Edmond François Valentin About, novelist, publicist and journalist * Émile Frian ...

, in the

Moselle The Moselle ( , ; ; ) is a river that rises in the Vosges mountains and flows through north-eastern France and Luxembourg to western Germany. It is a bank (geography), left bank tributary of the Rhine, which it joins at Koblenz. A sm ...

département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level (" territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the communes. There are a total of 101 ...

'' in the

Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...

region of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. In 1848, he entered the

École Normale École or Ecole may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * Éco ...

, taking second place in the annual competition for admission in which

Hippolyte Taine Hippolyte Adolphe Taine (21 April 1828 – 5 March 1893) was a French historian, critic and philosopher. He was the chief theoretical influence on French naturalism, a major proponent of sociological positivism and one of the first practitione ...

came first. Among his college contemporaries, besides Taine, were

Francisque Sarcey Francisque Sarcey (8 October 1827 – 16 May 1899) was a French journalist and dramatic critic. Career Sarcey was born in Dourdan, Essonne. After some years as schoolmaster, a job for which his temperament was ill-fitted, he entered journal ...

, Challemel-Lacour and Prevost-Paradol. Of them all, About was considered the most highly vitalized, exuberant, brilliant and "undisciplined". It is said that one of his schoolmasters told him "You will never be more than a little

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778), known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' Voltaire (, ; ), was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, philosopher (''philosophe''), satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit ...

" At the end of his college career, he joined the French school in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, but claimed that he had never intended to follow the professorial career for which the École Normale was a preparation, and in 1853 he returned to France and devoted himself to literature and journalism.

Career

He made his name as an entertaining anti-clerical writer. The satirical ''

Le Roi des montagnes The ''Le Roi des montagnes'' ("The king of the mountains") is a French-language novel published in 1857 by Edmond About. The work was translated into English by Mrs. C. arltonA. Kingsbury for a 1897 a Rand McNally edition. It was included in Pr ...

'' (1856; translated into

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

Mary Louise Booth Mary Louise Booth (April 19, 1831March 5, 1889) was an American editor, translator, and writer. She was the first editor-in-chief of the women's fashion magazine, ''Harper's Bazaar''. At the age of eighteen, Booth left the family home for New Yo ...

as ''

The King of the Mountains The ''Le Roi des montagnes'' ("The king of the mountains") is a French-language novel published in 1857 by Edmond About. The work was translated into English by Mrs. C. arltonA. Kingsbury for a 1897 a Rand McNally edition. It was included in P ...

'', and by Tom Taylor as ''The Brigand and His Banker'', for a dramatized version) is the best-known of his novels. In Greece, About had noticed that there was a curious understanding between the brigands and police: brigandage was becoming almost a safe and respectable industry. About pushed this idea to invent the story of a brigand chief who converts his business into a registered

joint-stock company A joint-stock company (JSC) is a business entity in which shares of the company's stock can be bought and sold by shareholders. Each shareholder owns company stock in proportion, evidenced by their shares (certificates of ownership). Shareho ...

The grave of Edmond About in Pere La Chaise Cemetery in Paris

About's commentary on modern Greece, ''La Grèce contemporaine'' (1854), was an immediate success. But his ''Tolla'' (1855), the story of a young Parisian actress, gave rise to charges of drawing too freely on an earlier Italian novel, ''Vittoria Savelli'' (1841). This aroused prejudice against him, and he was the object of numerous attacks. The ''Lettres d'un bon jeune homme'', written to the '' Figaro'' under the signature of "Valentin de Quevilly", provoked more animosities. During the next few years, he wrote novels, stories, a play (which failed), a book-pamphlet on the Roman question, many pamphlets on other subjects of the day, innumerable newspaper articles, some art criticisms, rejoinders to the attacks of his enemies, and popular manuals of political economy, ''L'A B C du travailleur'' (1868), ''Le progrès'' (1864). His more serious novels include ''Madelon'' (1863), ''L'Infâme'' (1867), the three that form the trilogy of the ''Vieille Roche'' (1866), an
''Le roman d'un brave homme''
(1880) – a kind of counterblast to the view of the French workman presented in

Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, ; ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of Naturalism (literature), naturalism, and an important contributor to ...

's ''

L'Assommoir , published as a serial in 1876, and in book form in 1877, is the seventh novel in Émile Zola's twenty-volume series '' Les Rougon-Macquart''. Usually considered one of Zola's masterpieces, the novel — a study of alcoholism and poverty in the ...

''. He is best remembered as a

farceur Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity o ...

, for the books ''Le nez d'un notaire'' (1862); ''Le roi des montagnes'' (1856); ''L'homme à l'oreille cassée'' (1862); ''Trente et quarante'' (1858); ''Le cas de M. Guérin'' (1862; see Georges Maurice de Guérin). He was initiated at the Saint-Jean de Jérusalem

Grand Orient de France The Grand Orient de France (, abbr. GODF) is the oldest and largest of several Freemasonic organizations based in France and is the oldest in Continental Europe (as it was formed out of an older Grand Lodge of France in 1773, and briefly absorbe ...

lodge in Nancy on 7 March 1862. He wrote several articles against Masonic side degrees, a point of view that was common among French leftwing freemasons.Daniel Ligou - Dictionnaire de la Franc-maçonnerie - Presses universitaires de France - Paris (1991); About's attitude towards the empire was friendly but critical. He greeted the liberal ministry of

Émile Ollivier Olivier Émile Ollivier (; 2 July 182520 August 1913) was a French statesman. Starting as an avid republican opposed to Emperor Napoleon III, he pushed the Emperor toward liberal reforms and in turn came increasingly into Napoleon's grip. He en ...

at the beginning of 1870 with delight, and welcomed the

Franco-Prussian War The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...

. But as a result of the war he lost his beloved home in

Alsace Alsace (, ; ) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in the Grand Est administrative region of northeastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine, next to Germany and Switzerland. In January 2021, it had a population of 1,9 ...

, which he had purchased in 1858 out of the fruits of his earlier literary successes. With the fall of the empire, he became a republican, and threw himself into battle against conservative reactionaries. From 1872 to about 1877, his paper, the ''XIX^e Siècle'' (''19th century''), became a power in the land. His political career, however, failed to advance further. On 23 January 1884, he was elected a member of the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

, but died at age 66 before taking his seat. His grave at the

Père Lachaise Cemetery Père Lachaise Cemetery (, , formerly , ) is the largest cemetery in Paris, France, at . With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Buried at Père Lachaise are many famous figures in the ...

in Paris includes a sculpture by

Gustave Crauck Gustave Adolphe Désiré Crauck (or Crauk; 16 July 1827 – 17 November 1905) was a French sculptor with a long distinguished career. He was born and died at Valenciennes, where a special museum for his works was erected in his honor. Educat ...

Filmography

*''L'uomo dall'orecchio mozzato'', directed by

Ubaldo Maria Del Colle Ubaldo Maria Del Colle (27 June 1883 – 24 August 1958) was an Italian actor and film director. He directed more than one hundred films from 1911 to 1952. Selected filmography *''L'Odissea (1911 film), L'Odissea'' (dir. Francesco Bertolini, ...

(Italy, 1916, based on the novel ''L'Homme à l'oreille cassée'') *''Per un figlio'', directed by

Mario Bonnard Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director. Career Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made befo ...

(Italy, 1920, based on the novel ''Germaine'') *'' Germaine'', directed by

Augusto Genina Augusto Genina (28 January 1892 – 18 September 1957) was an Italian film pioneer. He was a movie producer and director. Biography Born in Rome, Genina was a drama critic and wrote comedies for the ''Il Mondo'' Magazine, under advise of Aldo ...

and Augusto Camerini (Italy, 1923, based on the novel ''Germaine'') *''

The Prince's Child ''The Prince's Child'' (German: ''Das Fürstenkind'') is a 1927 German silent drama film directed by Jacob Fleck and Luise Fleck, starring Harry Liedtke, Vivian Gibson and Evi Eva.Bock & Bergfelder p.285 It is based on Franz Lehár's 1909 opere ...

'', directed by

Luise Fleck Luise Fleck, also known as Luise Kolm or Luise Kolm-Fleck, née Louise or Luise Veltée (1 August 1873–15 March 1950), was an Austrian film director, and has been considered the second ever female feature film director in the world, after Al ...

and

Jacob Fleck Jacob Fleck (8 November 1881 in Vienna as Jacob Julius Fleck – 19 September 1953, also in Vienna) was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, film producer and cameraman. He is noted for his long-standing professional partnership with his wife ...

(Germany, 1927, loosely based on the novel ''

'') *''

The Man with a Broken Ear ''The Man with a Broken Ear'' (French: ''L'homme à l'oreille cassée'') is a 1935 French drama film directed by Robert Boudrioz and starring Thomy Bourdelle, Jacqueline Daix and Alice Tissot.Goble p.800 It was an adaptation of the 1862 novel ...

'', directed by

Robert Boudrioz Robert Pierre Frédéric Boudrioz (12 February 1887 – 22 June 1949) was a French screenwriter and film director. Boudrioz was born in Versailles and died in Paris. Selected filmography Director * ''Tom Thumb (1920 film), Tom Thumb'' (1920) * '' ...

(1934, based on the novel ''L'Homme à l'oreille cassée'') *''Mi vida en tus manos'', directed by

Antonio de Obregón Antonio de Obregón was a Spanish writer and film director. He was a supporter of the Falangism, Falange movement.Fernández-Medina & Truglio Selected filmography * ''House of Cards (1943 film), House of Cards'' (1943) * ''The Butterfly That Fle ...

(Spain, 1943, based on the short story ''Le Buste'') *''

Trente et Quarante ("thirty and forty"), also called ("red and black"), is a 17th-century gambling card game of French origin played with cards and a special table. It is rarely found in US casinos, but still very popular in Continental European casinos, especial ...

'', directed by

Gilles Grangier Gilles Grangier (5 May 1911 – 27 April 1996) was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 50 films and several TV series between 1943 and 1985. His film ''Archimède le clochard'' was entered into the 9th Berlin Inter ...

(1945, based on the novel ''Trente et Quarante'') *', directed by

Willy Rozier Willy Rozier (27 June 1901 – 29 May 1983) was a French actor, film director, film producer and screenwriter who also used the pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which ...

(1964, based on the novel ''

'')

Notes

References

* Benjamin Willis Wells, ''A Century of French Fiction'', s. v., About

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:About, Edmond 1828 births 1885 deaths People from Dieuze 19th-century French novelists Writers from Grand Est French opinion journalists 19th-century French journalists 19th-century French dramatists and playwrights École Normale Supérieure alumni Members of the French School at Athens Members of the Académie Française Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery French Freemasons French male novelists French male journalists 19th-century French non-fiction writers French male non-fiction writers French art critics 19th-century French short story writers French male short story writers