Hector Malot

Born in La Bouille, France, in 1830, Hector Malot studied law in Rouen and Paris before turning fully to literature. He began as a journalist and critic, then built a long career as a novelist, writing for both adults and younger readers.

He is remembered above all for Sans Famille (1878), the story of the orphan Rémi, which became a classic of children's literature and has been translated and adapted many times. Malot was a remarkably prolific writer, and his novels often paid close attention to social conditions, family life, and the struggles of ordinary people.

He died in 1907 in Fontenay-sous-Bois. Even now, his best-known work stands out for its warmth, movement, and sympathy for children facing a difficult world.