Prosper-Olivier Lissagaray facts for kids
Hippolyte-Prosper-Olivier Lissagaray (born November 24, 1838, in Toulouse – died January 25, 1901, in Paris) was a French writer and journalist. He was also a Republican and a socialist who believed in big changes for society. Lissagaray is most famous for his book, History of the Paris Commune of 1871, which tells the story of an important event he was part of.
Early Life and Family
Lissagaray was born in Toulouse, France. His father, Laurent Prosper Lissagaray, was a pharmacist. His mother was Marie-Louise Olympe Boussès de Foucaud. His family had a history of being involved in different professions. For example, his great-grandfather was a farmer, and his grandfather was a doctor. Lissagaray also had a cousin, Paul de Cassagnac, who was also a journalist.
Reporting on the Paris Commune
Lissagaray is well-known for his detailed book, History of the Paris Commune of 1871. This book describes the events of the Paris Commune, a time in 1871 when the people of Paris took control of their city. Lissagaray was there and saw everything firsthand.
To make sure his book was accurate, he talked to many people who survived the Commune. He gathered their stories when they were living in other countries like London and Switzerland. He also looked at all the official papers and documents from that time.
The famous thinker Karl Marx helped Lissagaray with his book. Marx's youngest daughter, Eleanor Marx, later translated the book into English. This helped many more people around the world learn about the Paris Commune.
Life in Exile
After the Paris Commune, Lissagaray had to leave France. He lived in London from 1871 to 1880. During this time, he stayed with the family of Karl Marx. He became close with Eleanor Marx, Karl Marx's youngest daughter.
Lissagaray spent many years writing and working as a journalist. He continued to share his ideas about politics and society. He returned to France in 1880.
