Ernest Alby

Born François Antoine Alby in 1809, Ernest Alby was a French writer and journalist who also published under the name A. de France. He became known for historical novels and for books and serial fiction linked to the conquest of Algeria, including The French in Algiers.

French reference sources describe him as an early force in the historical roman-feuilleton, the serialized novel that reached readers through newspapers and journals. He was also associated with the Saint-Simonian movement, which helps place him in the lively world of 19th-century French political and literary debate.

Alby died in 1868. Though not as widely read today as some of his contemporaries, he remains an interesting figure for listeners drawn to adventure, colonial-era history, and the fast-moving storytelling of early serialized fiction.