Émile Souvestre

Émile Souvestre ( born April 15, 1806 Morlaix ( Finistère), † July 5, 1854 in Paris) was a French novelist and playwright.

Biography

Émile Souvestre began in Rennes with the study of law, but soon discovered his interest in literature. In 1826 he was therefore for the first time to Paris, where his first play, Le Siège de Missolonghi should be listed. Since the censorship demanded cuts that Souvestre not accepted, it was not ultimately the performance. 1828 his brother died, so he had to return to support his family back to Brittany. There he earned his living by writing articles for various newspapers and as a teacher of rhetoric in Brest and later in Mulhouse. In 1830 he married Marie - Cécile Ballot Beaupré, which however already died in 1831. In 1832 he went his second marriage with Angéline -Anne Papot, with whom he had three daughters. In 1836 he settled permanently with his family settled in Paris, first made by descriptions of Brittany - Le Finistère en 1836, La Bretagne pittoresque (1841 ) - known and then delivered a large number of novels, dramas and vaudeville, have a rich talent express for observation. In addition Souvestre the collection and publication of tales devoted.

Philosophizing or moralizing occurs (ie, the contrast between rich and poor in socialist sharpness highlighting ) direction very prominent in his novels. These are: Riche et pauvre (1836 ); Les derniers Breton (1837 ); Pierre et Jean ( 1842); Les Réprouvés et les Elu (1845 ); Le Monde tel qu'il sera (1846, the first French anti - utopia ), Confessions d'un Ouvrier (1851 ); the winning of the Academy: Un philosophe sous les toits; Au coin du feu and Sous latonnelle (1851 ); Le memorial de famille (1854 ).

His dramatic poems, such as Henri Hamelin, Baptiste L' oncle, La Parisienne, Le mousse, etc., form the Scribes Unlike pieces by not like this, the rich, but mainly represent the dispossessed classes as the main representatives of morality. In addition, his witty Causeries historiques et littéraires (1854, two volumes ) should be mentioned.

Souvestre died on July 5, 1854 in Paris. A complete edition of his partially translated into German works appeared in the " Collection Lévy " ( 60 volumes ).

Adaptations

The 1849 premiered play Le pasteur, ou L' évangile et le foyer by Émile Souvestre and Eugène Bourgeois served as the basis for Giuseppe Verdi's 1850 opera, premiered in Trieste Stiffelio.

Fairy tale

• Peronnik the Fool - Peronnik l' idiot; the motives partly reminiscent of Parzival. The tale is of Lower Brittany.
• The Corac'h of the island Lok - The fairy tale is how the Swedish fairy tale first born in a similar circle motif, first married. The tale originates from the Basse -Bretagne.
• Comorre - the story is reminiscent partly of Bluebeard. Comorre is a legend from the Basse -Bretagne.
• Keris, the legend of the lost city in the sea, also recalls the legend of Vineta. Keris is also called Is or Ys The tale comes from the Basse -Bretagne.