Désiré Nisard

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