Michel Lévy (1821–1875) was the founder of the

Michel Lévy Frères Michel Lévy frères was a Paris publishing house founded in 1836 by Michel Lévy with his brothers Nathan and Kalmus (Calmann). Michel served as publisher until his death in 1875, upon which Kalmus succeeded him and renamed the company Calmann ...

publishing house.

Biography

Born in

Phalsbourg Phalsbourg (; ; Lorraine Franconian: ''Phalsburch'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments of France, department in Grand Est in north-eastern France, with a population of about 5,000. It lies high on ...

, he was the son of a ''

colporteur Colportage is the distribution of publications, books, and religious tracts by carriers called "colporteurs" or "colporters". The term does not necessarily refer to religious book peddling. Etymology From French , where the term is an alter ...

'' (a peddler of printed publications). In 1836, aged fifteen, he opened a reading cabinet and a "theatrical library" in Paris, rue Marie-Stuart, under the name ''Michel Lévy frères'', but at first acting alone. In 1842 he moved the business to Passage du Grand-Cerf. In 1845, he did involve his brothers, Calmann and Nathan. Nathan would retire from the business in 1850. He edited various dramatic works, including collections such as ''la bibliothèque dramatique'', ''le théâtre contemporain illustré'', and most notably the successful collection ''Michel Lévy'' in 1856. Financial success allowed him to open a grand book-store at rue Auber. The Lévy brothers published most of the important French authors of the second half of the 19th century, including Dumas, Balzac, Hugo,

Sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is usually defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural ...

Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , ; ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realis ...

, Baudelaire, Stendhal, and Nerval. The brothers also entered the flourishing periodical market, publishing magazines such as '' L'Entracte,

L'Univers illustré ''L'Univers illustré'' was a French language weekly periodical published in Paris, France, between 1858 and 1900. History and profile ''L'Univers illustré'' was established by Michel Lévy (1821–1875) and after Michel's death taken over ...

, Le Journal du jeudi'' and ''

Le Journal du dimanche ''Le Journal du Dimanche'' (; ), also known as the JDD , is a French weekly newspaper published on Sundays in France. JDD was bought in 2023 by Vivendi of media mogul Vincent Bolloré, triggering a strike movement against the new editorial s ...

''. Lévy was decorated with the

légion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

in 1873, and he died unexpectedly on 4 May 1875.

George Sand Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil (; 1 July 1804 – 8 June 1876), best known by her pen name George Sand (), was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. Being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balz ...

wrote his obituary in the 15 May edition of ''L'Univers illustré''. The business was continued by his brother Calmann, as ''

Calmann-Lévy Calmann-Lévy is a French publishing house founded in 1836 by Michel Lévy as Michel Lévy frères. His brother Kalmus Calmann Lévy joined in 1844. After Michel's death in 1875, the firm was renamed ''Calmann Lévy''.Jean-Yves Mollier Jean-Yves Mollier (born 5 November 1947) is a French contemporary history teacher. Biography Mollier is teacher at the Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University. He is specialized in the history of publishing. He has dedicated his docto ...

, ''

Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , ; ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realis ...

et Michel Lévy, un couple explosif'', Calmann-Lévy, 2021.

External links

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georgesand.culture.fr
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levy, Michel 1821 births 1875 deaths French publishers (people) 19th-century French businesspeople