author
Jules Girardin
1832–1888
A 19th-century French writer and teacher, he was known for lively stories for young readers and for bringing history and moral lessons into an accessible, engaging style.
2 Audiobooks
Contes à Jeannot
by Jules Girardin
Les aventures de M. Colin-Tampon
by Jules Girardin
About the author
Born in Loches, France, on January 4, 1832, Jules Girardin studied in Châteauroux, went on to the École Normale Supérieure, and earned the agrégation in grammar and letters. He taught at several lycées before settling at the lycée in Versailles, building a career that combined education with a steady literary output.
He wrote for publications including Revue européenne, Le Magasin pittoresque, Journal de la jeunesse, and Revue des deux mondes. Girardin is especially associated with stories for children and families, and he sometimes published under the pseudonym J. Levoisin. His works include titles such as Contes à Jeannot and Contes à Pierrot, which helped make him part of the rich tradition of 19th-century French writing for younger readers.
He died in Paris on October 26, 1888. Though not a household name today, his books survived through libraries and digitization projects, and they still offer a window into the moral tales, humor, and everyday imagination of their time.