The pseudonym P.L. Jacob, or Bibliophile Jacob, defined the career of Paul Lacroix, a writer whose output spanned over twenty historical romances and expansive studies of Renaissance culture. Born in Paris in 1806, his professional life bridged the worlds of literature, journalism, and library science, culminating in his appointment as curator of the Arsenal Library in 1855.
Literary and Historical Output
Lacroix produced a massive volume of work during the nineteenth century, including biographies of Napoleon III and Czar Nicholas I of Russia. His collaborative efforts with Ferdinand Séré resulted in the five-volume Le moyen âge et la renaissance, published in 1847. This study addressed the dress, customs, and manners of the Renaissance period. He also initiated the periodical Revue universelle des arts in 1855 to explore cultural history.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Controversial Publications
Attribution of several texts remains linked to Lacroix’s pseudonym, most notably the six-volume Histoire de la prostitution released between 1851 and 1854 under the name Pierre Dufour. Beyond his historical monographs, he edited and corrected the works of various authors, including François Villon and Marc-Claude de Buttet. His bibliography includes works dating from his early career, such as L’Origine des cartes à jouer in 1835.
Professional Life and Death
In addition to his writing, Lacroix served as the librarian of the Arsenal Library in Paris starting in 1855. His career earned him recognition as an Officer of the Legion of Honour. He married Apolline Biffe on 7 May 1834. After a long career as a bibliographer and author, Lacroix died in 1884 at the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal. He was buried at Montmartre Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1806, Paris
- Died: 1884, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal
- Occupations: writer, librarian, historian, playwright, journalist, bibliographer
- Pseudonym: P.L. Jacob (Bibliophile Jacob)
- Awards: Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Buried at: Montmartre Cemetery
- Marriage: Apolline Biffe, 7 May 1834
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Lacroix cover in his research?
He focused on historical romances, Renaissance customs, dress, military and religious life in the Middle Ages, and the history of prostitution.
Where did Lacroix work as a librarian?
He was appointed as the curator of the Arsenal Library in Paris in 1855.
Achievements
- Officer of the Legion of Honour
