author
G. Lenotre
1855–1935
Best known for bringing the French Revolution vividly to life, this French historian and playwright turned archival research into gripping narrative history. Writing under the pen name G. Lenotre, he became especially associated with the human drama of the Terror and old Paris.
1 Audiobook
The House of the Combrays
by G. Lenotre
About the author
Born Louis Léon Théodore Gosselin in Richemont, Moselle, in 1855, he wrote under the name G. Lenotre. He was a French historian and playwright whose work appeared in major publications including Le Figaro, Revue des deux mondes, Le Monde illustré, and Le Temps.
He became known as a specialist in the small, vivid details of history, especially the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. His books drew on archival documents and firsthand records, which helped give his historical writing a strong sense of scene, character, and drama.
Late in life, his reputation was recognized by his election to the Académie française in 1932. He died in Paris in 1935, leaving behind a large body of work that helped popularize French Revolutionary history for general readers.