HELLO, ERNEST. — French writer, born in Lorient on 4 November 1828, and died there on 15 April 1885. He practised law for a short time, then devoted himself to philosophical and theological studies, withdrawing to the château of Kéroman, where he spent the remainder of his life. His activity as an essayist, narrator, philosopher, and Christian apologist found expression in books misunderstood by most.
He published: Physionomie des Saints (Paris 1858); M. Renan, l'Allemagne et l'athéisme au XIXᵉ siècle (there 1858);
M. Renan et la Vie de Jésus (there 1863); L'homme (there 1872); Les paroles de Dieu (there 1877); Du néant à Dieu (2 vols., there 1921). He also produced several translations of works by the mystics (Ruysbroeck, Angela da Foligno, etc.). A powerful writer, at times mystical and apocalyptic, he reacted against the ideas of the century with a tenacity equal to the ardour of the Church’s adversaries. A very close friend of L. Veuillot, he was, like him, uncompromising, though without his polemical vigour and without taking part in public life. In L'homme he offered a Christian interpretation of existence through a series of analyses of the life, science, and art of his century. Particularly noteworthy in this work is the sustained polemic against the mediocre man: the one who is always deferential towards public opinion, respectful towards his fellow man who has attained «celebrity», who considers Christianity «useful» but inwardly hates it and would like to deny it with «fragrant words», who feels repugnance for Catholicism, judged too uncompromising, and sympathy for Protestantism, considered «more moderate».