SUE, EUGÈNE. - French writer b. in Paris on 20 Jan. 1804, d. at Annecy on 3 Aug. 1857.

After some works set in a maritime milieu, he portrayed, in sensational novelistic forms, the milieu and customs of the great Parisian world of the period (Atar Gull [1831], Plik et Plok [1831], La Salamandre [1832], Latréamont [1837], etc.). Financial ruin and sentimental disappointments soon disgusted him with that society, from which he withdrew to retire to the Sologne, where he continued his literary activity (Mathilde [1841], Les mystères de Paris [1842], etc.).

In the crude representation of the customs and vicissitudes of the less well-off social strata, he almost anticipated verism. In the Mystères the exaltation of a romantic spirit diverted by a pseudo-social mysticism appears in evidence. He also occupied himself with politics, and was the initiator of the "feuilleton" genre. His work (85 vols.) is an open apology for free love and vice, an assiduous mockery of the dogmas and the figures dearest to the Catholic religion. Omnes fabulae amatoriae are on the Index (decree of 22 Jan. 1852).

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: P. Ginisty, E. S., Paris 1936; A. Bellessort, E. S., in Revue de Paris, 7 (1937), pp. 39-64; I. Moody, Les idées sociales d'E. S., Paris 1938; P. Chaunu, E. S. et la Seconde République, ibid. 1948.

Romano Romani

@incollection{ec11_sue_eugene, author = {Romani, Romano}, title = {Sue, eugène}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XI}, pages = {1484--1485}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/sue-eugene} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Sue, Eugène

About this entry