Louis Amédée Achard
Encyclopedia
Louis Amédée Eugène Achard (19 April 1814, Marseille
–25 March 1875, Paris
) was a prolific French
novelist.
After a short stay near Algiers
, where he supervised a farm, he went to Toulouse
, and then Marseille
, where he became a journalist
and wrote for the Sémaphore.
He moved to Paris, where he wrote for the Vert-Vert, the Entracte, the Charivari, and the Époque. Achard wrote extensively for the Époque, even writing for his colleagues when they lacked inspiration.
He then collaborated in the satirical
journal Le Pamphlet, and was gravely wounded in a duel with a man named Fiorentino, whom he had defamed. While still convalescent, he left for Italy
with the French Army
to cover the war for the Journal des Débats.
Achard was a prolific writer. In addition to his journalism, he wrote about thirty plays and about forty books. He is known today primarily for his cloak and dagger
novels. Some incorrectly claim that he was the originator of the term (Ponson du Terrail used the term a little before him), but he did write a novel called la Cape et l'Épée (The Cloak and Dagger) in 1875. Achard also wrote many books on manners.
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
–25 March 1875, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) was a prolific French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
novelist.
After a short stay near Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, where he supervised a farm, he went to Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, and then Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, where he became a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and wrote for the Sémaphore.
He moved to Paris, where he wrote for the Vert-Vert, the Entracte, the Charivari, and the Époque. Achard wrote extensively for the Époque, even writing for his colleagues when they lacked inspiration.
He then collaborated in the satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
journal Le Pamphlet, and was gravely wounded in a duel with a man named Fiorentino, whom he had defamed. While still convalescent, he left for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
to cover the war for the Journal des Débats.
Achard was a prolific writer. In addition to his journalism, he wrote about thirty plays and about forty books. He is known today primarily for his cloak and dagger
Cloak and dagger
Cloak and dagger is a term sometimes used to refer to situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery.Cloak and dagger may refer to:-Music:* Cloak & Dagger * Cloak & Dagger , 1992...
novels. Some incorrectly claim that he was the originator of the term (Ponson du Terrail used the term a little before him), but he did write a novel called la Cape et l'Épée (The Cloak and Dagger) in 1875. Achard also wrote many books on manners.
Works
- Belle-Rose (1847)
- Les Petits-fils de Lovelace (1854)
- La Robe de Nessus (1855)
- Maurice de Treuil (1857)
- Le Clos Pommier (1858)
- La Sabotière (1859)
- Les Misères d'un millionnaire (1861)
- Histoire d'un homme (1863)
- Les Coups d'épée de M. de La Guerche (1863) Republished by Phébus in 1991
- Mme de Sarens (1865)
- La Chasse à l'idéal (1867)
- Marcelle (1868)
- Envers et contre tous (1874) (sequel to Les Coups d'épées de M. de La GuercheLa GuercheLa Guerche is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.People from La Guerche are called Guerchois or Guerchoises....
) Republished by Phébus in 1991 - La Cape et l'Épée (1875)
- Toison d'or (1875) (sequel to La Cape et l'Épée)