born May 13, 1840, Nîmes, France
died Dec. 16, 1897, Paris
French short-story writer and novelist.
Daudet wrote his first novel at age 14. Unable to finish his schooling after his parents lost all their money, he took a position in a duke's household. He later joined the army but fled the terrors of the Paris Commune of 1871. His health was long undermined by poverty and by the venereal disease that eventually cost him his life. He is remembered for his humorous, sentimental portrayals of the life and characters of southern France, inspired by his experiences at several social levels. His many works include the story collection Monday Tales (1873), the play L'Arlésienne (1872), the novels The Nabob (1877) and Sappho (1884), and several volumes of memoirs. His son, Léon Daudet (1867–1942), edited with Charles Maurras the reactionary review L'Action Française and was a virulent satirist and polemicist on the subjects of medicine and psychology as well as public affairs.
Alphonse Daudet
H. Roger-Viollet