SUDDEN DEATH OF A NOTED FRENCH NOVELIST.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3311, 18 December 1897, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATH OF A NOTED FRENCH NOVELIST.

By Telegraph.—Frees Association. — Copyright. Received December 18,13.20 a.m. Paeis, December 16. Alphonse Dandefc, the well-known French litterateur, ©tat 57, died suddenly from syncope while dining. Alphonse Daudet was born at Nimes, of poor parents, in 1840. After studying in the Lyceum at Lyons, he became an usher in a school at Alaie, and did the drudgery of that humble calling for two years. In 1857 ho went to Paris with hia brother Ernest, in order to try to gain a livelihood by literary pursuits. He first brought out a volume of poetry, entitled “ Lea Amoureuses,” 1858, which immediately gained for, him a reputation, - and led to hia employment on Eeveral newspapers. He also wrote for the stage with success. For five years he was private secretary to Duo de Morny, President of the Corps -Llgialatif (1861-85). M. Alphonse Daudet contributed extensively to a large number of newspapers, particularly to the Hfunde Jllustre and to the Figaro, in which his ihymed chronicles, signed “ Jean Froissart,” and hia “ Lettrea do mon Moulin/* signed “ Gaston* Marie,” deserve special mention. Subsequently he became one of the regular contributors*to th e Moniteur Universal, and be has published under the pseudonym of •* Baptistet,” or under hia real name, a number of novels, tales, and collection of articles contributed originally to newspapers. Hia last work was-.‘Fromont jeune et Eialor ainS,” to which the French Academy awarded the Jouy prize in June, 1875.]