A million textbooks were provided to French primary schools by Louis Christophe François Hachette following the 1833 Guizot Schools Law. This massive logistical undertaking established his firm as a dominant force in educational publishing, transforming the industry by prioritizing the production of manuals, dictionaries, and classics to support the national system of school instruction.
Early Education and Professional Beginnings
Born in Rethel in 1800, Hachette attended the Pensionnat normal and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. While he initially trained to become a teacher at the École Normale Supérieure, his departure in 1822 led him toward the legal profession before he pivoted to the book trade. In 1826, he opened the Brédif bookshop near the Sorbonne, focusing on cultural development and academic resources.
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The founding of L. Hachette & Company in 1846 signaled an era of rapid growth. He secured a landmark contract with Emile Littré for a dictionary, while a strategic 1852 agreement with seven railway companies allowed him to install bookstalls in transit stations. These outlets distributed travel guides and literature, including works by George Sand, Charles Dickens, and La Comtesse de Ségur.
Media and Public Advocacy
Beyond traditional books, Hachette expanded into periodical publishing, launching Le Journal pour tous in 1855, which reached a weekly circulation of 150,000. He later introduced the travel journal Le Tour du Monde in 1860. Throughout his career, he remained active in public life, serving as the Mayor of Le Plessis-Robinson from 1856 to 1857 and advocating for international copyright laws.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 May 1800, Rethel
- Died: 31 July 1864, Paris
- Educated: Pensionnat normal, Lycée Louis-le-Grand
- Award: Knight of the Legion of Honour (1860)
- Political Office: Mayor of Le Plessis-Robinson (1856-1857)
- Burial: Montparnasse Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the primary focus of Hachette's publishing firm?
The firm primarily produced educational materials, including alphabet primers, dictionaries, and annotated editions of French, Latin, and Greek classics.
Did Hachette work in industries other than publishing?
He was a businessperson and printer, and also engaged in public service as a mayor and by writing pamphlets on social issues like the amelioration of the poor.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1860