Max O'Rell

Born Léon Paul Blouet in Brittany, Max O'Rell was a French author and journalist who wrote under a pen name. He is generally associated with the dates 1848–1903, though major reference sources also give his lifespan more precisely as March 3, 1847, to May 24, 1903.

He made his name with humorous, often satirical books about national character and everyday manners, especially the relationship between France and Britain. One of his best-known books, John Bull and His Island, helped build his reputation with English-speaking readers, and many of his works were translated into English by his wife, Mary Blouet.

Later in his career, he also became a successful public lecturer, speaking frequently in Britain and the United States. His work mixed travel writing, social commentary, and comedy, which makes it a lively window into late 19th-century attitudes as well as an entertaining read in its own right.