Abel Lefranc
Encyclopedia
Maurice Jules Abel Lefranc (27 July 1863 - 27 November 1952), was a historian of French literature, expert on Rabelais, and the principal advocate of the Derbyite theory of Shakespeare authorship
.
. After studying at the École Nationale des Chartes
, where he wrote a thesis on the history and organization of the town of Noyon until the end of the 13th century (1886). He left to study in Leipzig and Berlin (1887), where he prepared a report on the teaching of history in Germany, which he believed to be the most advanced in the world.
, he continued his historical research, turning specifically to the 16th century. In 1893, at the age of 30, he published Histoire du Collège de France depuis les origines jusqu’à la fin du Premier Empire, a history of the Collège de France
from its origin to the fall of Napoleon. His intention was to rehabilitate the later period of the Collège's existence, which had been neglected. He became secretary of the Collège de France under three of its directors: Gaston Boissier, Gaston Paris
and Emile Levasseur, combining his job with those of archivist and librarian of the institution. He also continued with his own research on the history of literature.
In 1904, on the death of Émile Deschanel
, Chair of Modern French Literature at the Collège de France, Lefranc successfully competed for the position against Ferdinand Brunetière
, who was considered anti-scientific and overly influenced by religious doctrines. Lefranc had already been appointed lecturer at the École pratique des hautes études
, of which he became director in 1911. By this time, he was considered as an important historian and philologist, whose work on John Calvin
, Marguerite de Navarre
and François Rabelais
was authoritative.
In 1903 Lefranc founded the Société des Etudes rabelaisiennes and the journal Revue des Etudes rabelaisiennes. He believed that Rabelais was a militant anti-Christian atheist, whose nominally comic writings conveyed his philosophy.
Lefranc was elected to the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres
in 1927.
His works are now largely outdated. They nevertheless helped train a generation of literary historians of the 16th century, who continued his work and applied his methods.
was the true author of Shakespeare's works. Lefranc developed the theory after James H. Greenstreet first suggested it in the 1890s, following his discovery of a letter which stated that Derby was "busy in penning comedies for the common players". Lefranc decided that Derby's life fitted the interests and beliefs of Shakespeare the writer. Derby may have had an affair with Mary Fitton
, a candidate for the Dark Lady of the sonnets. Lefranc considered Derby to be sympathetic to France and to Catholicism, views he also believed to be present in the plays. Derby's proficiency in French would explain Shakespeare's use of the language in Henry V
. According to Lefranc, Derby's experiences in the Court of Navarre are reflected in Love's Labour's Lost
. Lefranc also believed that the character of Falstaff was influenced by the work of Rabelais, which was not available in English translation at the time.
Derbyite theory of Shakespeare authorship
The Derbyite theory of Shakespeare authorship is the view that William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby was the true author of the works of William Shakespeare...
.
Early life
Lefranc was born in Élincourt-Sainte-MargueriteÉlincourt-Sainte-Marguerite
Élincourt-Sainte-Marguerite is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
. After studying at the École Nationale des Chartes
École Nationale des Chartes
The École Nationale des Chartes is a grand établissement, an elite French university-level educational institution based in Paris. It provides education and training for archivists and librarians and forms part of the University of Paris.-History:...
, where he wrote a thesis on the history and organization of the town of Noyon until the end of the 13th century (1886). He left to study in Leipzig and Berlin (1887), where he prepared a report on the teaching of history in Germany, which he believed to be the most advanced in the world.
Scholarly career
While working with the National ArchivesArchives nationales (France)
The Archives nationales preserve the national archives of the French state, apart from the archives of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as these two ministries have their own archive services, the Service historique de la défense and the Archives diplomatiques...
, he continued his historical research, turning specifically to the 16th century. In 1893, at the age of 30, he published Histoire du Collège de France depuis les origines jusqu’à la fin du Premier Empire, a history of the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
from its origin to the fall of Napoleon. His intention was to rehabilitate the later period of the Collège's existence, which had been neglected. He became secretary of the Collège de France under three of its directors: Gaston Boissier, Gaston Paris
Gaston Paris
Bruno Paulin Gaston Paris , known as Gaston Paris, was a French writer and scholar.He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901, 1902 and 1903.-Biography:Paris was born at Avenay...
and Emile Levasseur, combining his job with those of archivist and librarian of the institution. He also continued with his own research on the history of literature.
In 1904, on the death of Émile Deschanel
Émile Deschanel
Émile Auguste Étienne Martin Deschanel was a French author and politician, the father of Paul Deschanel, the 11th President of the French Republic....
, Chair of Modern French Literature at the Collège de France, Lefranc successfully competed for the position against Ferdinand Brunetière
Ferdinand Brunetière
Ferdinand Brunetière was a French writer and critic.-Early years:Brunetière was born in Toulon, Var, Provence. After school at Marseille, he studied in Paris at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Desiring a teaching career, he entered for examination at the École Normale Supérieure, but failed, and the...
, who was considered anti-scientific and overly influenced by religious doctrines. Lefranc had already been appointed lecturer at the École pratique des hautes études
École pratique des hautes études
The École pratique des hautes études is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions....
, of which he became director in 1911. By this time, he was considered as an important historian and philologist, whose work on John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
, Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite de Navarre , also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was the queen consort of Henry II of Navarre...
and François Rabelais
François Rabelais
François Rabelais was a major French Renaissance writer, doctor, Renaissance humanist, monk and Greek scholar. He has historically been regarded as a writer of fantasy, satire, the grotesque, bawdy jokes and songs...
was authoritative.
In 1903 Lefranc founded the Société des Etudes rabelaisiennes and the journal Revue des Etudes rabelaisiennes. He believed that Rabelais was a militant anti-Christian atheist, whose nominally comic writings conveyed his philosophy.
Lefranc was elected to the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
in 1927.
His works are now largely outdated. They nevertheless helped train a generation of literary historians of the 16th century, who continued his work and applied his methods.
Shakespeare theories
His theories about William Shakespeare were published in 1918 in Sous le masque de William Shakespeare: William Stanley, VIe comte de Derby (2 vol., 1918). Lefranc argued that William Stanley, 6th Earl of DerbyWilliam Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby
William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby was an English nobleman. Stanley inherited a prominent social position that was both dangerous and unstable, as his mother was heir to Queen Elizabeth I under the Third Succession Act, a position that fell to his deceased brother's oldest daughter in 1596,...
was the true author of Shakespeare's works. Lefranc developed the theory after James H. Greenstreet first suggested it in the 1890s, following his discovery of a letter which stated that Derby was "busy in penning comedies for the common players". Lefranc decided that Derby's life fitted the interests and beliefs of Shakespeare the writer. Derby may have had an affair with Mary Fitton
Mary Fitton
Mary Fitton was the daughter of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth, Cheshire and Alice Halcroft, and is considered by some to be the "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets. Her elder sister, Anne, married John Newdigate in 1587, at the age of fourteen...
, a candidate for the Dark Lady of the sonnets. Lefranc considered Derby to be sympathetic to France and to Catholicism, views he also believed to be present in the plays. Derby's proficiency in French would explain Shakespeare's use of the language in Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
. According to Lefranc, Derby's experiences in the Court of Navarre are reflected in Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s, and first published in 1598.-Title:...
. Lefranc also believed that the character of Falstaff was influenced by the work of Rabelais, which was not available in English translation at the time.
Principal publications
- Histoire de la ville de Noyon et de ses institutions jusqu'à la fin du XIIIe siècle (1887)
- La Jeunesse de Calvin (1888)
- Histoire du Collège de France depuis ses origines jusqu'à la fin du premier Empire (1893)
- Les Idées religieuses de Marguerite de Navarre d'après son œuvre poétique Les Marguerites et les Dernières poésies (1898)
- Les Navigations de Pantagruel, études sur la géographie rabelaisienne (1905)
- Les Lettres et les idées depuis la Renaissance (2 vol., 1910–1914)
- Sous le masque de William Shakespeare : William Stanley, VIe comte de Derby (2 vol., 1918)
- La Vie quotidienne au temps de la Renaissance (1938)
- À la découverte de Shakespeare (2 vol., 1945)
Editions
- Marguerite de Navarre: Les Dernières poésies (1896)
- Jean Calvin: Institution de la religion chrestienne (en coll., 2 vol. 1911)
- François Rabelais: Œuvres (en coll., 5 vol. 1913-1931)
- André Chénier: Œuvres inédites (1914)