author
Richard Lesclide
1825–1892
A lively figure in 19th-century French literary life, he moved easily between writing, editing, journalism, and publishing. He is also remembered for his close connection to Victor Hugo, serving as Hugo’s secretary in the writer’s later years.
1 Audiobook
Véritables mémoires de Cagliostro
by Catulle Mendès, Richard Lesclide
About the author
Born in Bordeaux on December 1, 1825, and died in Paris on May 15, 1892, Richard Lesclide was a French writer, dramatist, journalist, editor, and publisher. He also wrote under several names, including Gabriel Richard and Le Grand Jacques, which hints at the range and playfulness of his literary career.
Lesclide worked across many forms of print culture rather than staying in a single lane. In addition to writing books and plays, he edited and published works, helping shape the literary world around him as much as he contributed to it directly. His career touched everything from journalism to the stage, giving him a reputation as one of those energetic behind-the-scenes figures who were vital to 19th-century French letters.
He is especially notable for having been Victor Hugo’s secretary during the last decade of Hugo’s life. That role places him close to one of France’s greatest literary figures, but Lesclide’s own story is interesting in its own right: he was a versatile man of letters whose work reflects the busy, interconnected world of publishing and journalism in his time.