Prosper Mérimée

Prosper Mérimée (September 28, 1803–September 23, 1870) was a French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and short story writer. One of his stories was the basis of the opera Carmen.

Related Topics:
September 28 - 1803 - September 23 - 1870 - French - Historian - Archaeologist - Carmen

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Prosper Mérimée was born in Paris, France. He studied law as well as Greek, Spanish, English, and Russian. He was the first interpreter of much Russian literature in France.

Related Topics:
Paris, France - Law - Greek - Spanish - English - Russian

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Mérimée loved mysticism, history, and the unusual, and was influenced by the historical fiction popularised by Sir Walter Scott and the cruelty and psychological drama of Aleksandr Pushkin. Many of his stories are mysteries set in foreign places, Spain and Russia being popular sources of inspiration.

Related Topics:
Mysticism - Sir Walter Scott - Aleksandr Pushkin - Spain - Russia

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In 1830, Mérimée was appointed to the post of inspector-general of historical monuments. He was a born archaeologist, combining linguistic faculty of a very unusual kind with accurate scholarship, with remarkable historical appreciation, and with a sincere love for the arts of design and construction, in the former of which he had some practical skill. In his official capacity he published numerous reports, some of which, with other similar pieces, have been republished in his works.

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Mérimée met and befriended the Countess of Montijo in Spain in 1830. When her daughter became the Empress Eugenie of France in 1853 he was made a senator.

Related Topics:
Countess of Montijo - 1830 - Empress Eugenie - 1853

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Prosper Mérimée died in Cannes, France and was interred there in the Cimetière du Grand Jas.

Related Topics:
Cannes - France - Cimetière du Grand Jas

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