The Project Gutenberg EBook of Gerfaut, Complete, by Charles de Bernard

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Title: Gerfaut, Complete

Author: Charles de Bernard

Last Updated: March 4, 2009
Release Date: October 5, 2006 [EBook #3985]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GERFAUT, COMPLETE ***

Produced by David Widger

GERFAUT

By CHARLES DE BERNARD

With a Preface by JULES CLARETIE, of the French Academy

CHARLES DE BERNARD

PIERRE-MARIE-CHARLES DE BERNARD DU GRAIL DE LA VILLETTE, better known by
the name of Charles de Bernard, was born in Besancon, February 24, 1804.
He came from a very ancient family of the Vivarais, was educated at
the college of his native city, and studied for the law in Dijon and
at Paris. He was awarded a prize by the 'Jeux floraux' for his
dithyrambics, 'Une fete de Neron' in 1829. This first success in
literature did not prevent him aspiring to the Magistrature, when the
Revolution of 1830 broke out and induced him to enter politics. He
became one of the founders of the 'Gazette de Franche-Comte' and an
article in the pages of this journal about 'Peau de chagrin' earned him
the thanks and the friendship of Balzac.

The latter induced him to take up his domicile in Paris and initiated
him into the art of novel-writing. Bernard had published a volume of
odes: 'Plus Deuil que Joie' (1838), which was not much noticed, but a
series of stories in the same year gained him the reputation of a genial
'conteur'. They were collected under the title 'Le Noeud Gordien', and
one of the tales, 'Une Aventure du Magistrat, was adapted by Sardou for
his comedy 'Pommes du voisin'. 'Gerfaut', his greatest work, crowned by
the Academy, appeared also in 1838, then followed 'Le Paravent', another
collection of novels (1839); 'Les Ailes d'Icare (1840); La Peau du Lion
and La Chasse aux Amants (1841); L'Ecueil (1842); Un Beau-pere (1845);
and finally Le Gentilhomme campagnard,' in 1847. Bernard died, only
forty-eight years old, March 6, 1850.

Charles de Bernard was a realist, a pupil of Balzac. He surpasses his
master, nevertheless, in energy and limpidity of composition. His style
is elegant and cultured. Hi