Seven series of literary studies titled Les Contemporains, published between 1886 and 1899, cemented the reputation of French critic and writer François Élie Jules Lemaître. A graduate of the École Normale Supérieure, he transitioned from a formal academic career to a life defined by consistent contributions to theatre criticism, poetry, and political engagement within the French intellectual sphere.
Academic and Critical Career
Born in Vennecy in 1853, Lemaître followed a traditional path of education before accepting a professorship at the University of Grenoble in 1883. His tenure in academia was brief; by 1884, he resigned his position to focus entirely on literature. He served as a drama critic for the Journal des Débats and later for the Revue des Deux Mondes, where he developed the content for his ten-series collection, Impressions de Théâtre, published between 1888 and 1898. These feuilletons demonstrated a distinct style characterized by gaiety and nuanced judgment regarding contemporary authors.
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Lemaître held several prominent positions, including a seat at the Académie française, which he occupied from 1895 until his death in 1914. His involvement in national politics became more overt through his affiliation with the Ligue de la Patrie Française, an organization established in 1898 by Louis Dausset, Gabriel Syveton, and Henri Vaugeois. He served as the president of the League from 1899 to 1904. His political views were further disseminated through La Campagne Nationaliste in 1902 and regular contributions to the Écho de Paris.
Final Years and Legacy
Following his resignation from the Ligue de la Patrie Française in 1904, Lemaître shifted his focus back to his literary craft. Throughout his life, his work was recognized with the Vitet Prize in 1887 and the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour. After a career spanning decades as a poet, librettist, and critic, he died in Tavers in 1914 at the age of 61. His body of work remains preserved as a significant record of late 19th and early 20th-century French letters.
Fast facts
- Born: 1853, Vennecy
- Died: 1914, Tavers
- Education: École Normale Supérieure
- Académie française seat: 20 (1895-1914)
- League Presidency: 1899-1904
- Notable Awards: Vitet Prize (1887), Officer of the Legion of Honour
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of the Ligue de la Patrie Française?
The organization was formed in 1898 to oppose Dreyfusism and challenge the influence of the pacifist left-wing movement within universities.
Which major publications collected his critical work?
His literary studies were compiled in the seven-series Les Contemporains, while his dramatic reviews were gathered in the ten-series Impressions de Théâtre.
Achievements
- Vitet Prize — 1887
- Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Genres: theatre and essay
