author
Claude-François-Xavier Mercier de Compiègne
1763–1800
A witty and prolific figure of Revolutionary-era France, this writer mixed satire, translation, and quick-turn publishing into a remarkably busy literary life. He is best remembered for libertine and satirical works that capture the restless energy of the late eighteenth century.
2 Audiobooks
Éloge du sein des femmes Ouvrage curieux
by Claude-François-Xavier Mercier de Compiègne
Éloge du pet
by Claude-François-Xavier Mercier de Compiègne
About the author
Born in Compiègne on August 1, 1763, he was a French writer, translator, editor, and compiler who worked under the name Mercier de Compiègne. Early in life he served as secretary to the chevalier de Jaucourt, and later worked in the offices of the French Navy before turning fully toward literary and publishing work.
During the French Revolution, he reportedly found himself in difficult financial circumstances and responded by writing and compiling books at great speed. He also opened a bookshop and became known for a wide range of publications, especially satirical and libertine texts, as well as translations and editorial projects.
He died in Paris in 1800. Though not as famous today as some of his contemporaries, his career offers a vivid glimpse of a writer making his way through the political and cultural upheavals of late eighteenth-century France.