Désiré Nisard

Jean Marie Napoléon Désiré Nisard (20 March 1806 - 27 March 1888) was a French author and critic. He was born at Châtillon-sur-Seine.

In 1826 he joined the staff of the Journal des Débats, but subsequently transferred his pen to the National. Under the empire he was inspector-general of education (1852) and director of the École normal (1857-1867).

His literary reputation was effectually established by his Histoire de la littérature française (1844-1861), which secured his election to the Academy (1850). His other works include Études d'histoire et de littérature (1859-1864), and Les Quatres grands historiens latins (1875).

In all his books he vigorously supported the claims of classicism against romanticism. He died at San Remo in 1888.

Trivia

Désiré Nisard is the object of the loathing of the narrator in the postmodern book Démolir Nisard, by the French writer Eric Chevillard.

References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Cultural offices
Preceded by Charles-Marie-Dorimond de Féletz	Seat 39 Académie française 1850-1888	Succeeded by Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé

Persondata
Name	Nisard, Desire
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	20 March 1806
Place of birth
Date of death	27 March 1888
Place of death