Henri de Latouche
Encyclopedia
Hyacinthe-Joseph Alexandre Thabaud de Latouche, commonly known as Henri de Latouche (2 February 1785 - 9 March 1851) was a French
poet
and novelist known for his publication of André Chénier
and early encouragement of George Sand
. (His family name is also seen as "Thabaud de La Touche" and even sometimes "Delatouche".)
He was born at La Châtre
(Indre
).
Among his works may be distinguished his comedies: Projets de sagesse (1811), and, in collaboration with Emile Deschamps
, Selmours de Florian (1818), which ran for a hundred nights; also La Reine d'Espagne (1831), which proved too indecent for the public taste; a novel, Fragoletta ou Naples et Paris en 1799 (1829), which attained a success of notoriety; La Vallée aux loups (1833), a volume of prose essays and verse; and two volumes of poems, Les Adieus, (1843) and Les Agrestes (1844).
Latouche's chief claim to remembrance is that he revealed to the world the genius of André Chénier
, then only known to a limited few. The remains of the poet's work had passed from the hands of Daunou to Latouche, who had sufficient critical insight instantly to recognize their value. In editing the first selection of Chénier's poems (1819) he made some trifling emendations, but did not, as Beranger afterwards asserted, make radical and unnecessary changes.
Latouche was guilty of more than one literary fraud. He caused a licentious story of his own to be attributed to the duchess of Duras, the irreproachable author of Ourika
. He made many enemies by malicious attacks on his contemporaries. The Constitutionnel was suppressed in 1817 by the government for an obscure political allusion in an article by Latouche. He then undertook the management of the Mercure du XIXe siècle
, and began a bitter warfare against the monarchy.
After 1830 he edited Le Figaro
, and spared neither the liberal politicians nor the romanticists who triumphed under the monarchy of July. In his turn he was violently attacked by Gustave Planche in the Revue des deux mondes
for November 1831. But it must be remembered to the credit of Latouche that he did much to encourage George Sand at the beginning of her career.
The last twenty years of his life were spent in retirement at Aulnay
.
Sainte-Beuve, in the Causeries du lundi, vol. 3, gives a not too sympathetic portrait of Latouche. See also George Sand in the Siecle for the 18th, 19th and 20th of July 1851.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novelist known for his publication of André Chénier
André Chénier
André Marie Chénier was a French poet, associated with the events of the French Revolution of which he was a victim. His sensual, emotive poetry marks him as one of the precursors of the Romantic movement...
and early encouragement of George Sand
George Sand
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, later Baroness Dudevant , best known by her pseudonym George Sand , was a French novelist and memoirist.-Life:...
. (His family name is also seen as "Thabaud de La Touche" and even sometimes "Delatouche".)
He was born at La Châtre
La Châtre
La Châtre is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-People:*It was the birth place of Henri de Latouche and Emile Acollas. André Boillot the auto racing driver crashed here in 1932 and died from his injuries....
(Indre
Indre
Indre is a department in the center of France named after the river Indre. The inhabitants of the department are called Indriens.-History:Indre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
).
Among his works may be distinguished his comedies: Projets de sagesse (1811), and, in collaboration with Emile Deschamps
Émile Deschamps
Émile de Saint-Amand Deschamps was a French poet. He was born at Bourges. Deschamps was one of the chiefs of the Romantic school. To further the cause of romanticism he founded with Victor Hugo La Muse Française , a journal to which he contributed verses and stories signed "Le Jeune Moraliste." ...
, Selmours de Florian (1818), which ran for a hundred nights; also La Reine d'Espagne (1831), which proved too indecent for the public taste; a novel, Fragoletta ou Naples et Paris en 1799 (1829), which attained a success of notoriety; La Vallée aux loups (1833), a volume of prose essays and verse; and two volumes of poems, Les Adieus, (1843) and Les Agrestes (1844).
Latouche's chief claim to remembrance is that he revealed to the world the genius of André Chénier
André Chénier
André Marie Chénier was a French poet, associated with the events of the French Revolution of which he was a victim. His sensual, emotive poetry marks him as one of the precursors of the Romantic movement...
, then only known to a limited few. The remains of the poet's work had passed from the hands of Daunou to Latouche, who had sufficient critical insight instantly to recognize their value. In editing the first selection of Chénier's poems (1819) he made some trifling emendations, but did not, as Beranger afterwards asserted, make radical and unnecessary changes.
Latouche was guilty of more than one literary fraud. He caused a licentious story of his own to be attributed to the duchess of Duras, the irreproachable author of Ourika
Ourika
Ourika is an 1823 novel by Claire de Duras, originally published anonymously.-Overview:The story is based on a few bare bones of historical facts, and was committed to the page by Claire de Duras. She only did so to prevent any possible plagiarism, as she recounted the story — with much...
. He made many enemies by malicious attacks on his contemporaries. The Constitutionnel was suppressed in 1817 by the government for an obscure political allusion in an article by Latouche. He then undertook the management of the Mercure du XIXe siècle
Mercure du XIXe siècle
The Mercure du XIXe siècle was a French literary magazine published from 1823 to 1830. It was edited by Henri de Latouche and was famous for the first published use of the word "realism" applied to literature...
, and began a bitter warfare against the monarchy.
After 1830 he edited Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, and spared neither the liberal politicians nor the romanticists who triumphed under the monarchy of July. In his turn he was violently attacked by Gustave Planche in the Revue des deux mondes
Revue des deux mondes
The Revue des deux Mondes is a French language monthly literary and cultural affairs magazine that has been published in Paris since 1829....
for November 1831. But it must be remembered to the credit of Latouche that he did much to encourage George Sand at the beginning of her career.
The last twenty years of his life were spent in retirement at Aulnay
Aulnay
Aulnay is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Aulnay, Aube, in the Aube département* Aulnay, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime département* Aulnay, Vienne, in the Vienne département...
.
Sainte-Beuve, in the Causeries du lundi, vol. 3, gives a not too sympathetic portrait of Latouche. See also George Sand in the Siecle for the 18th, 19th and 20th of July 1851.