LEMONNIER, ANTOINELOUIS CAMILLE

(1844-1913)

Camille Lemonnier was born inIxelleson 24 March 1844. AFrench-language author of realistic and naturalistic novels, Lemonnier wrote his first workUn mâle(A male) in 1881, which remained one of his best known. His writings were characterized by an attention to detail and verbosity, and his later novels exhibited greater moderation. Lemonnier was a prolific writer and the pictorial characteristics of his works exerted a profound influence on French-languageliteraturein Belgium beforeWorld War I. Known as the "Marshal of Belgian Letters," Lemonnier was also an art historian and art critic. He died in Brussels on 13 June 1913.