Philarète Chasles
Encyclopedia
Victor Euphemien Philarète Chasles (8 October 1798 – 18 July 1873) was a French critic
and man of letters.
He was born at Mainvilliers
(Eure et Loir). His father, Pierre Jacques Michel Chasles (1754–1826), was a member of the Convention
, and was one of those who voted the death of Louis XVI
. He brought up his son according to the principles of Rousseau's Emile
, and the boy, after a regime of outdoor life, followed by some years classical study, was apprenticed to a printer
, so that he might make acquaintance with manual labor. His master was involved in one of the plots of 1815, and Philarète suffered two months imprisonment.
On his release he was sent to London, where he worked for the printer Abraham John Valpy
on editions of classical authors. He wrote articles for the English reviews, and on his return to France did much to popularize the study of English authors. He was also one of the earliest to draw attention in France to Scandinavian and Russian literature. He contributed to the Revue des deux mondes
, until he had a violent quarrel, terminating in a lawsuit, with François Buloz
, who won his case.
He became librarian of the Bibliothèque Mazarine
, and from 1841 was professor of comparative literature
at the Collège de France
. During his active life he produced some fifty volumes of literary history and criticism, and of social history, much of which is extremely valuable. He died at Venice
in 1873.
His son, Émile Chasles (1827–1908), was a philologist of some reputation.
Among his best critical works is Dix-huitime siècle en Angleterre (1846), one of a series of 20 vols. of Etudes de littérature comparée (1846–1875), which he called later Trente ans de critique. An account of his strenuous boyhood is given in his Maison de mon pré. His Memoires (1876–1877) did not fulfil the expectations based on his brilliant talk.
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and man of letters.
He was born at Mainvilliers
Mainvilliers
Mainvilliers may refer to the following places in France:* Mainvilliers, Eure-et-Loir, a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department* Mainvilliers, Loiret, a commune in the Loiret department...
(Eure et Loir). His father, Pierre Jacques Michel Chasles (1754–1826), was a member of the Convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
, and was one of those who voted the death of Louis XVI
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
. He brought up his son according to the principles of Rousseau's Emile
Emile: Or, On Education
Émile, or On Education is a treatise on the nature of education and on the nature of man written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered it to be the “best and most important of all my writings”. Due to a section of the book entitled “Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar,” Émile was be...
, and the boy, after a regime of outdoor life, followed by some years classical study, was apprenticed to a printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
, so that he might make acquaintance with manual labor. His master was involved in one of the plots of 1815, and Philarète suffered two months imprisonment.
On his release he was sent to London, where he worked for the printer Abraham John Valpy
Abraham John Valpy
Abraham John Valpy was an English printer and publisher.He was the son of the Reading schoolmaster Richard Valpy. He is remembered in connection with two great undertakings in the department of classical literature. These were reissues of Stephanus' Greek Thesaurus, for which E. H...
on editions of classical authors. He wrote articles for the English reviews, and on his return to France did much to popularize the study of English authors. He was also one of the earliest to draw attention in France to Scandinavian and Russian literature. He contributed to the Revue des deux mondes
Revue des deux mondes
The Revue des deux Mondes is a French language monthly literary and cultural affairs magazine that has been published in Paris since 1829....
, until he had a violent quarrel, terminating in a lawsuit, with François Buloz
François Buloz
François Buloz was a French littérateur, magazine editor, and theater administrator.He was born in Vulbens, Haute-Savoie, near Geneva, and died in Paris....
, who won his case.
He became librarian of the Bibliothèque Mazarine
Bibliothèque Mazarine
The Bibliothèque Mazarine is the oldest public library in France.- History :The Bibliothèque Mazarine was initially the personal library of cardinal Mazarin , who was a great bibliophile...
, and from 1841 was professor of comparative literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
at the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
. During his active life he produced some fifty volumes of literary history and criticism, and of social history, much of which is extremely valuable. He died at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1873.
His son, Émile Chasles (1827–1908), was a philologist of some reputation.
Among his best critical works is Dix-huitime siècle en Angleterre (1846), one of a series of 20 vols. of Etudes de littérature comparée (1846–1875), which he called later Trente ans de critique. An account of his strenuous boyhood is given in his Maison de mon pré. His Memoires (1876–1877) did not fulfil the expectations based on his brilliant talk.