author
Édouard Charton
1807–1890
A pioneering French editor and man of letters, he helped bring history, science, and travel writing to a wide popular audience in 19th-century France. He is best remembered as the founder of Le Magasin pittoresque and as a longtime force in educational publishing.
1 Audiobook
Le Tour du Monde; Sicile Journal des voyages et des voyageurs; 2. sem. 1860
by Édouard Charton
About the author
Born in Sens in 1807, Édouard Charton trained in law but turned instead toward journalism, publishing, and public education. He became closely involved with reform-minded intellectual circles early in his career and built a reputation as a writer and editor interested in making knowledge accessible to ordinary readers.
His lasting achievement was the founding of Le Magasin pittoresque in 1833. As its editor for decades, he helped shape a lively, illustrated magazine that introduced readers to literature, geography, history, science, and the wider world. He was also associated for many years with Hachette, where he played an important role in the development of educational and general-interest publishing.
Charton was active in public life as well as literary culture, serving in French politics during the 19th century. He died in 1890, but his reputation endures through the broad, curious, reader-friendly spirit of the publications he helped create.