author
Paul Stapfer
1840–1917
A sharp, elegant French essayist and literary critic, he wrote with unusual clarity about Shakespeare, classic literature, and the writers of his own time. His work blends careful scholarship with a lively, readable style that still feels welcoming today.
1 Audiobook
Molière et Shakespeare
by Paul Stapfer
About the author
Born in Paris in 1840, Paul Stapfer became known as a French essayist, critic, and teacher. He studied at the Lycée Bonaparte, later worked as a tutor in the family of François Guizot, and went on to teach literature at Grenoble before taking a similar post at Bordeaux.
Stapfer wrote on a wide range of literary subjects, but he is especially remembered for essays praised for their clarity, finish, and attention to detail. His books include studies of Shakespeare as well as writing on Victor Hugo and other major French authors, showing a talent for making serious literary discussion feel direct and engaging.
He died in 1917. For listeners and readers coming to him now, his appeal lies in that mix of learning and readability: he was deeply informed, but never hard to follow.