Paul Foucher facts for kids
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Paul-Henri Foucher (born April 21, 1810 – died January 24, 1875) was a French writer. He wrote plays for the theatre, was a critic for theatre and music, a political journalist, and a novelist. He was also the brother-in-law of the very famous French writer Victor Hugo.
Contents
Paul Foucher's Life Story
Starting His Career
Paul Foucher was born in Paris. He began his working life in an office that dealt with war matters. One day, he visited a poet named Alexandre Soumet. Soumet asked Foucher if he had read a play called Amy Robsart, written by his brother-in-law. This brother-in-law was Victor Hugo, who had married Paul's older sister, Adèle, in 1822.
Foucher later asked Victor Hugo if he could see the play. Hugo had actually planned to burn it! But instead, he gave it to Foucher and let him make changes. Hugo had written the first three acts when he was only nineteen. The play was a mix of comedy and tragedy. Foucher revised it and put his own name on it in 1829. However, the play was a complete failure. Victor Hugo then stepped forward and admitted he had helped write it, taking responsibility for its lack of success. Even though the play failed, this event made the young Foucher somewhat known. The play was never published.
Becoming a Playwright
Soon after, Foucher started working as a journalist. He quickly wrote a new play called Yseul Raimbaud. It was first shown at the Théâtre de l'Odéon on November 17, 1830. Some critics didn't like it, but everyone agreed that it showed talent and energy. From that moment on, Foucher's success in writing plays was certain.
He quickly showed he was very creative and could write a lot. He produced plays one after another, including Saynètes (1832), La Misère dans l'Amour (1832), and Les Passions dans le Monde (1833). People said he was very active and used his time well.
His play Don Sébastien de Portugal, first performed in 1838, inspired a famous opera called Dom Sébastien. Foucher also wrote the stories (called libretti) for several operas and ballets. Some of these were for the Paris Opera and showed his lively imagination. These included the opera Le Vaisseau fantôme (1842), the opera Richard en Palestine (1844), and the ballet Paquita (1846). Foucher often worked with other well-known writers on his plays.
Working as a Journalist and Nonfiction Writer
In 1848, Paul Foucher started getting involved in politics. He became the Paris reporter for a newspaper in Brussels called L'Indépendance belge. His articles were described as "very remarkable" and "full of life and spirit."
He also became a respected theatre and music critic. He wrote for L'Opinion nationale and later for La France and La Presse. He was one of the most respected and sometimes feared critics of his time. Many of his reviews were put together and published in a book in 1867 called Entre cour et jardin: études et souvenirs du théâtre. In 1873, he published Les Coulisses du passé, which contained stories about famous playwrights. He also wrote Les Sièges héroiques, a book about famous sieges in history, from Joan of Arc's liberation of Orléans in 1429 to the bombing of Strasbourg in 1870.
Writing Novels
Foucher also wrote two novels that were first published in parts in newspapers. These were later released as books: Le Guetteur de Cordouan (The Watchman of Cordouan) in 1853, and La Vie du plaisir (The Life of Pleasure) in 1860.
Paul Foucher's Personality
Paul Foucher had some unique personal qualities. He was so near-sighted that people in Paris would say someone was "as near-sighted as Paul Foucher." His handwriting was also very hard to read. The newspapers he worked for had to hire a special person just to rewrite his articles!
He was also known for being very absent-minded. Once, he went to a fancy ball. When it was time to leave, he couldn't find the ticket for his coat. He asked many people for help, but no one could find his coat. Finally, he decided to go home without it. When he got home, he found his coat there and realized why he couldn't find the ticket! Many funny stories like this were told about Foucher, and he always took them kindly.
Paul Foucher was given a special award, the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, in 1847. He passed away in Paris and was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery. Victor Hugo walked behind his coffin. Because Foucher worked so hard, he left his family in a good financial situation.
Paul Foucher's Works
Plays He Wrote
- Yseul Raimbaud (1830)
- Saynètes (1832)
- La Misère dans l'Amour (1832)
- Les Passions dans le Monde (1833)
- Caravage (1834)
- Jeanne de Naples (1837)
- Don Sébastien de Portugal, tragedy (1839)
- Les Chevaux du Carrousel (1839)
- Le Pacte de famine (with Élie Berthet) (1839)
- Bianca Contadini (1840)
- La Guerre de l'indépendance en Amérique (1840)
- La Voisin (1842)
- Les Deux Perles (1844)
- Les Étouffeurs de Londres (1847)
- L'Héritier du Czar (1849)
- Notre-Dame de Paris (1850)
- Mademoiselle Aïssé (1854)
- La Bonne Aventure (1854)
- La Joconde (1855)
- Les Rôdeurs du Pont-Neuf (1858)
- L'Amiral de l'escadre Bleue (1858)
- L'Institutrice (1861)
- Delphine Gerbet (1862)
- Le Carnaval de Naples (1864)
- La Bande Noire (1866)
Operas and Ballets He Wrote Stories For
- Le Vaisseau fantôme, music by Dietsch (1842)
- Richard en Palestine, music by Adam (1844)
- Paquita, music by Deldevez (1846)
- L'Opéra au camp, music by Varney (1854)
- L'Étoile de Messine, music by Gabrielli (1861)
Novels He Wrote
- Le Guetteur du Cordouan (1854, 3 volumes)
- La Vie de plaisir (1860)
Nonfiction Books He Wrote
- Entre cour et jardin: études et souvenirs du théâtre (1867)
- Les Coulisses du passé (1873)
- Les Sièges héroïques (1873)
