Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre ​

Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre was a French writer and botanist known best for his 1788 novel "Paul et Virginie", a work which expressed his ideas and philosophical beliefs about life and nature. He also founded the precursor of the Paris Botanical Garden.

Quick Facts ​

• Wrote "Paul et Virginie", one of the most famous novels in the 18th century.
• He was made a knight (chevalier) in the Order of Saint-Michel in 1765 for his contributions to literature.
• His works were translated into numerous languages, including English, Spanish and German.
• He also contributed to the Encyclopédie, one of the most notable works during the French Enlightenment.
• His beliefs in environmental conservation and the importance of emotion in education became influential in later literature.

Background ​

Bernardin de Saint-Pierre was born in 1737 in Le Havre, France, and came from a wealthy bourgeois family. He studied at a Jesuit school in Caen, where he had a strong inclination towards natural history. He travelled widely throughout Western Europe and also visited Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. He later returned there and to Reunion Island as an administrator under orders from the French Government. His most famous work, Paul et Virginie, was first published in 1787 and is a classical tale of two young childhood friends who gradually fall in love as they grow older. This book was set on the islands he had visited and reflects the author's keen interest in nature. He passed away in France in 1814.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Saint-Pierre is best known for his nature inspired themes and romantic style. His novels, while containing a fairly straightforward plot structure, were full with detailed descriptions and observations of nature, emphasizing the beauty and simple purity of the natural world. His work is considered significant in French literature as it marked a shift towards sentiment and emotion, expressing deeper moral and philosophical ideas through his romanticized characters and stories.

Notable Works ​

• Voyage to Isle de France (1773)
• Paul and Virginia (1787)
• The Indian Cottage (1790)
• Harmonies of Nature (1815)