C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Alfred de Musset (1810–1857)
Musset, Louis Charles Alfred de (mü-sā’). A French poet; born in Paris, Nov. 11, 1810; died there, May 1, 1857. He studied law and medicine, and tried business, each for a short time; was librarian of the department of the Interior (1838), and the department of Public Instruction (1855). He wrote: ‘Tales of Spain and Italy’ (1830); ‘A Play in an Arm-Chair’ (1832); ‘A Night of May’ (1835); ‘A Night of December’ (1835); ‘A Night of August’ (1836); ‘A Night of October’ (1837);—the last four being his masterpieces; ‘Letter to Lamartine’ (1836); ‘Hope in God’ (1838); etc. The ‘Nights,’ as well as the latter part of the prose story ‘Confession of a Child of the Century’ (1836), related to his connection with George Sand. Other notable stories were: ‘Emmeline’ (1837); ‘The Two Mistresses’ (1837); ‘Frederick and Bernerette’ (1838); ‘Titian’s Son’ (1838); etc. He produced also a series of graceful and original ‘Comedies and Proverbs,’ some of which hold the stage to-day; ‘One Must Not Play with Love’ (1834); ‘We Must Swear to Nothing’ (1836); ‘A Door Must be either Open or Shut’ (1845); etc. (See Critical and Biographical Introduction).