Dictionary.net

A French novelist (1821-73). His ill-famed story "Fanny" (1858) had an unprecedented success. It was followed by "Daniel" (1859); "Catherine d'Overmeire" (1860); "Sylvie" (1861); and "A Debut at the Opera" (1863). Of his later works one only had any marked success, "The Countess de Chalis, or the Morals of our Day" (1868). He tried, but with little success, to write for the stage. He repeatedly felt the need of rebutting the charge of indecency: "On the Luxury of Women; on Morals, Literature, and Virtue" (1866) is an elaborate apologia.