Victor de Laprade facts for kids
Victor de Laprade (born January 13, 1812 – died December 13, 1883) was a famous French poet and writer. He was also known as a critic, meaning he wrote reviews and opinions about other people's work. Victor de Laprade lived in France during the 1800s and is remembered for his beautiful poems and thoughtful writings.
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Early Life and Career
Victor de Laprade was born in a town called Montbrison, Loire, in France. His family was not rich or famous. After finishing his studies in Lyon, he started writing poetry.
His first book of poems, Les Parfums de Madeleine, came out in 1839. He continued to write many more poems, often with religious themes.
In 1845, Laprade traveled to Italy to do research for his writing. Two years later, in 1847, he became a professor of French literature in Lyon. This was an important job where he taught about French books and authors.
Joining the Académie française
The Académie française is a very old and respected group in France. Its job is to protect the French language and literature. Being chosen to join this group is a great honor for writers.
In 1857, Victor de Laprade was almost chosen, but another writer, Émile Augier, was picked instead. However, the very next year, in 1858, Laprade was finally chosen to join the Académie française. He took the place of another famous writer, Alfred de Musset, who had passed away.
Challenges and Politics
Victor de Laprade was not afraid to share his opinions, even if they were unpopular. In 1861, he wrote a poem called Les Musées d'Etat. This poem made fun of the government at the time, which was called the Second French Empire. Because of this poem, he lost his teaching job in Lyon.
Later, in 1871, he became involved in politics. He was elected to the National Assembly of France, which is like the parliament or congress of France. He was elected as a conservative, meaning he believed in traditional values and ideas.
After he passed away, a statue was built in his hometown of Montbrison to remember him and his work.
His Writings
Victor de Laprade wrote many books of poetry and prose (which is like regular writing, not poetry).
Poetry
Some of his well-known poetry books include:
- Poèmes évangéliques (1852)
- Idylles héroïques (1858)
- Les Voix du silence (1864)
- Pernette (1868)
- Poèmes civiles (1873)
His poems often talked about life in the French countryside. He wrote about the culture, the strong faith, and the quiet love for one's country that he saw there. He was inspired by nature, seeing it as a way to understand something divine or spiritual. His style was similar to other famous French writers like Chateaubriand and Alphonse de Lamartine.
Prose Works
Besides poetry, Laprade also wrote many essays and books in prose. Some of these include:
- Questions d'art et de morale (1861)
- Le Sentiment de la nature, avant le Christianisme (1866)
- Education libérale (1873)
He also wrote articles for important magazines like the Revue des deux mondes. His prose often included studies about classical literature and deep philosophical ideas. He didn't like writing that was too sarcastic or doubtful.
