FIN
NOTES
The full-face figures refer to the pages; the ordinary figures refer to the lines.
PROSPER MÉRIMÉE
Paris, 1803-Cannes, 1870
Mérimée was at first identified with the Romantic movement, but his hatred of exaggeration and his cynicism caused him to turn to a simpler manner. His clear, concise narrative style and his objective manner of treatment, combined with a grasp of human character, pathos, delicate analysis, satire and an ability to portray local color and to omit non-essentials may be said to be his chief characteristics. His test work is seen in the short stories and in the nouvelles.
Important works (the dates refer to the year of publication): Théâtre de Clara Gazul (1825), La Jacquerie (1828), Chronique du Règne de Charles IX (1829), Nouvelles (including: Tamango, Colomba, Vénus d'Ille, and other shorter stories; from 1830 to 1841), Carmen (1847), Lokis (1869), Dernières Nouvelles (1873); besides works on travel, history, archeology, literature and translations (especially from the Russian). L'Enlèvement de la Redoute was written in 1829 (for La Revue Française) and Le Coup de Pistolet in 1856 (for Le Moniteur).
Edition: Calmann Lévy.
Criticism: Advanced students should consult Lanson, Histoire de la littérature française (Hachette, Paris); others may consult Wright's History of French Literature (Oxford Press). Bibliographies may be found in both of these works, further details can be found in the special bibliographies published by Lanson and by Thieme.
L'ENLÈVEMENT DE LA REDOUTE