Abel Hermant (3 February 1862 â€" 29 September 1950) was a French
novelist, playwright, essayist and writer, and member of the Académie
française.Hermant was born in Paris, the son of an architect. He
received a degree from the École Normale Supérieure in 1880, and
published his first volume of verse in 1883, The Contempt. After
several youthful novels, he moved to ironic analysis of the popular
mores of the Belle Époque and achieved popular success. His first
semi-autobiographical novel, Monsieur Rabosson of 1884, established
his reputation as a satirical social observer. Its follow-up Le
Cavalier Miserey of 1887, dealt with the issue of homosexuals in the
military.Between 1901 and 1937 Hermant embarked on a series of 20
linked novels with the general title Memoirs to Serve for a History of
Society, but his contributions to literature included many popular
plays, drama criticism for Le Figaro and Gil Blas, and a series of
grammarian articles for Le Temps under the name "Lancelot" defending
the purity of the French language.By 1899 Hermant was well-connected
in society; for instance he was the guest of Anna de Noailles at
Évian-les-Bains, where he became friends with Marcel Proust. After a
number of tries Hermant was elected to the Académie française on 30
June 1927.
novelist, playwright, essayist and writer, and member of the Académie
française.Hermant was born in Paris, the son of an architect. He
received a degree from the École Normale Supérieure in 1880, and
published his first volume of verse in 1883, The Contempt. After
several youthful novels, he moved to ironic analysis of the popular
mores of the Belle Époque and achieved popular success. His first
semi-autobiographical novel, Monsieur Rabosson of 1884, established
his reputation as a satirical social observer. Its follow-up Le
Cavalier Miserey of 1887, dealt with the issue of homosexuals in the
military.Between 1901 and 1937 Hermant embarked on a series of 20
linked novels with the general title Memoirs to Serve for a History of
Society, but his contributions to literature included many popular
plays, drama criticism for Le Figaro and Gil Blas, and a series of
grammarian articles for Le Temps under the name "Lancelot" defending
the purity of the French language.By 1899 Hermant was well-connected
in society; for instance he was the guest of Anna de Noailles at
Évian-les-Bains, where he became friends with Marcel Proust. After a
number of tries Hermant was elected to the Académie française on 30
June 1927.
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