Paul Léautaud

French critic and diarist. Born in Paris. He made his literary debut with the autobiographical novella "Little Friend" (1902). He then published "For Commemoration" (1905) and "Various Loves" (1906), both based on his own experiences. However, he gave up writing novels after that and became an editor of the magazine "Mercure de France" (1908) after writing theater reviews for the magazine. For over 30 years, he was in charge of various columns in addition to theater reviews, and was known as a stern and harsh critic. However, what made him immortal was the 19 volumes of "Journal littéraire" (Literary Diary) (1954-66), published from the end of his life until his death, which are detailed records of his observations and experiences on the hidden history of the French literary world from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century.

[Takahiro Nagasawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

フランスの批評家、日記作者。パリ生まれ。自伝的中編小説『小さな友』（1902）で文壇にデビュー。ついで、やはり自己の体験に基づく『記念のために』（1905）、『さまざまな愛』（1906）を発表するが、以後小説の筆を折り、『メルキュール・ド・フランス』誌の劇評執筆をきっかけに同誌編集員となり（1908）、30年余にわたって劇評以外にも種々のコラムを担当、狷介(けんかい)、辛辣(しんらつ)な批評家として知られた。しかし、彼の名を不朽にしたのは、最晩年から死後にかけて刊行された『文学日記』Journal littéraire 19巻（1954～66）で、これは19世紀末から20世紀前半に及ぶフランス文壇裏面史に関する詳細な見聞の記録である。

［長澤孝廣］

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