Paul Alexis facts for kids
Paul Alexis (born June 16, 1847 – died July 28, 1901) was a French writer. He wrote novels, plays, and worked as a journalist. Today, he is mostly known as a close friend and writer about the famous author Émile Zola.
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Life of Paul Alexis
Paul Alexis was born in Aix-en-Provence, France. He went to Collège Bourbon, where he first learned about Zola, who had also studied there. His parents wanted him to study law at the University of Aix. However, Paul Alexis dreamed of becoming a writer.
In 1869, he moved to Paris. There, he quickly became good friends with Zola and his family. Alexis wrote articles for many newspapers. He also wrote novels in the naturalist style. This style focused on showing life as it really was. He also wrote several plays, sometimes with another writer named Oscar Méténier.
In 1875, Alexis was briefly put in jail. People mistakenly thought he was a Communard, which was a serious accusation. But Zola used his influence to help him get released quickly.
Alexis was part of a group of writers called the groupe des Médan. This group included famous authors like J.-K. Huysmans, Guy de Maupassant, and Zola. In 1880, they published a book called Les Soirées de Médan. It was a collection of six naturalist stories about the Franco-Prussian War. Paul Alexis's story in the book was called Après la bataille (which means "After the Battle").
Paul Alexis also greatly admired the writer Gustave Flaubert. He was a friend of the painter Renoir. Another writer, Henri Céard, once called Alexis "Zola's shadow" because they were so close. The artist Paul Cézanne painted a picture of them together, titled Paul Alexis reading to Zola.
In 1883, he married Marie-Louise Virginie Monnier. He had two daughters, Paule and Marthe.
Quotes by Paul Alexis
Paul Alexis often spoke about writing and his friends.
- "Naturalism (is) not dead." ("Naturalisme pas mort."")
On his friend Émile Zola, Alexis said:
- "He is very ambitious and strong-willed when it comes to ideas. But in everything else, he is gentle and easy to get along with."
- "He gives in slowly and never right away. Being wrong causes him great pain. This competitive spirit is so deep that it will find any small reason to show itself. For example, I have sometimes played chess with him and won. He admits that, for a moment, losing bothers him as much as if someone said he had no writing talent."
- "If only you knew how much I owe this man! What would I be today without him? I am sure that the small bit of fame I and a few others have is like a spark from the huge fire this amazing man has created around himself! People criticized him, misunderstood him, and ignored him. He fought hard all alone and suffered because of it. While we, like young people who inherit money they didn't earn, just had to show up. We harvested even before we planted!"
Works by Paul Alexis
Paul Alexis wrote many books and plays.
Novels
- Après la bataille (part of Les Soirées de Médan) (1880)
- Un amour platonique (1880)
- La Fin de Lucie Pellegrin (1880)
- L'Infortune de monsieur Fraque (1880)
- Les Femmes du père Lefèvre (1880)
- Le Besoin d'aimer (1885)
- Le Collage (1883)
- L'Education amoureuse (1890)
- Madame Meuriot, mœurs parisiennes (1890)
- Trente romans ; Le cœur ; La chair ; L'esprit (1895)
- La Comtesse. Treize symboles. Quelques originaux (1897)
- Le Collage (1899)
- Vallobra (1901)
Drama
- Celle qu'on n'épouse pas (1879)
- La Fin de Lucie Pellegrin (1888)
- Les Frères Zemganno (1890)
- Monsieur Betsy (1890)
- Charles Demailly (1892)
- La Provinciale (1893)
Letters and Memoirs
- Émile Zola : notes d'un ami (1882)
- «Naturalisme pas mort» : lettres inédites de Paul Alexis à Émile Zola, 1871-1900 (1971)
See also
In Spanish: Paul Alexis para niños
