Auguste Angellier

Born in Dunkirk on July 1, 1848, Auguste Angellier became an important French man of letters at a time when English studies were gaining ground in French universities. He taught language and English literature at the Faculté de Lettres in Lille and later served as dean from 1897 to 1900.

Angellier was known both as a literary historian and as a poet. His major scholarly work focused on Robert Burns, and contemporary accounts note that he drew attention for challenging the critical methods associated with Hippolyte Taine. Alongside his academic career, he wrote poetry marked by emotional intensity, including L'Amie perdue.

He died on February 28, 1911, in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Though not widely known today outside specialist circles, he remains a memorable figure for readers interested in the meeting point of poetry, criticism, and the early history of English literature as a university discipline in France.