Jules Lemaître

Born in Vennecy, France, in 1853, Jules Lemaître became one of the best-known French critics of the late 19th century. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure, taught for a time, and then left university life to devote himself fully to literature.

He was admired for an impressionistic style of criticism that emphasized individual response, taste, and clear writing over strict systems. Alongside his critical work, he also wrote stories and plays, which helped make him a visible figure in French letters.

Lemaître was elected to the Académie française, a sign of the esteem he earned in his own time. He died in 1914, but he is still remembered as a graceful, accessible voice in French criticism.