Mérimée, Prosper, 1803-70, French author. He first wrote a collection of plays in imitation of Spanish drama, The Plays of Clara Gazul (1825, tr. 1825), and a collection of so-called Illyrian ballads, La Guzla (1827). His important historical novel, The Chronicle of the Reign of Charles IX (1829; tr. 1830, 1890), is marked by an objectivity and psychological penetration rare among the romanticists. He was master of a concise and understated style, most fully realized in his nouvelles, or long stories, for which he is best known. Outstanding examples include Colomba (1852, tr. 1853); Carmen (in Revue des Deux Mondes, 1845; as a book, 1846, tr. 1881), which was the basis of Bizet's opera; La Vénus d'Ille (1837); and Letters to an Unknown (in Revue des Deux Mondes, 1873; as a book, 1874, tr. 1874). His short story, "Mateo Falcone" (1876), is a masterpiece of the genre. A cultivated man of the world, Mérimée was a student of archaeology, a linguist who translated Russian authors into French, and a senator under the Empire. He also wrote literary and art criticism and historical studies.

Enfantin, Barthélemy Prosper, 1796-1864, French socialist, sometimes called Père Enfantin. He became a leader of the movement started by the comte de Saint-Simon. Under his guidance the Saint-Simonian school put increasing emphasis upon religious and moral regeneration and less upon political reform. Following a schism developing out of Enfantin's disagreement with Saint-Amand Bazard over marriage reform, Enfantin established (1832) a monastic settlement for the remnants of the movement at Ménilmontant. It disintegrated with the imprisonment of Enfantin for a year on charges of incitement to immorality and financial fraud. After his release he devoted himself mainly to business enterprises. His writings include Religion Saint-Simonienne (1831) and Life Eternal (1861, tr. 1920).

Crébillon, Prosper Jolyot de, 1674-1762, French dramatist. His tragic melodramas, marked by violent plots, include Idoménée (1705), Électre (1708), and Rhadamiste et Zénobie (1711), which is considered his best. After a long retirement he was persuaded by Mme de Pompadour, who was seeking a rival to Voltaire, to write Catilina (1748), which was performed with great success.

Considérant, Victor Prosper, 1808-93, French socialist; follower of Charles Fourier. In 1837, at the death of Fourier, he became the acknowledged leader of Fourierism. He edited Fourierist newspapers, including the Philanstère and the Phalange, and published works on the subject, notably a digest of Fourier's writings, Destinée sociale (2d ed. 1847-49). As a member of the national assembly, he took part in the June Days insurrection (1848) and was forced to leave Paris and live in Belgium. At the request of Albert Brisbane, Considérant tried unsuccessfully to establish (1855-57) a Fourierist colony in Texas. His several books include Principes du socialisme (1847), an argument favoring Fourierism over other kinds of socialism.

Barante, Amable Guillaume Prosper Brugière, baron de, 1782-1866, French statesman and historian. He held numerous administrative and diplomatic posts but retired with the downfall of Louis Philippe (1848). Of his historical works, the best known is a history of the duchy of Burgundy (1824). His Souvenirs (8 vol., 1890-1901), published posthumously, have considerable charm and some value as historical source material.

(born Dec. 10, 1908, Avignon, France—died April 27, 1992, Clichy, near Paris) French composer. At age 11 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he won five first prizes. In 1931 he became principal organist at the church of the Sainte-Trinité, where he would remain for 40 years. He wrote his Quartet for the End of Time in a German POW camp. After the war, he taught at the Conservatoire (1947–78), where his students included Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Iannis Xenakis. His main source of inspiration was his quasi-mystical devout Catholic faith. His love of nature is evident in his many works inspired by birdsong. He also was influenced rhythmically by his study of Indian music, and he systematically explored nontonal harmonic materials. Major works include Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus (1944) and Catalogue d'oiseaux (1958) for piano, La Nativité du Seigneur (1935) for organ, the Turangalǐla-symphonie (1948), Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum (1964), and the opera Saint François d'Assise (1983).

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(born Dec. 10, 1908, Avignon, France—died April 27, 1992, Clichy, near Paris) French composer. At age 11 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he won five first prizes. In 1931 he became principal organist at the church of the Sainte-Trinité, where he would remain for 40 years. He wrote his Quartet for the End of Time in a German POW camp. After the war, he taught at the Conservatoire (1947–78), where his students included Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Iannis Xenakis. His main source of inspiration was his quasi-mystical devout Catholic faith. His love of nature is evident in his many works inspired by birdsong. He also was influenced rhythmically by his study of Indian music, and he systematically explored nontonal harmonic materials. Major works include Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus (1944) and Catalogue d'oiseaux (1958) for piano, La Nativité du Seigneur (1935) for organ, the Turangalǐla-symphonie (1948), Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum (1964), and the opera Saint François d'Assise (1983).

Learn more about Messiaen, Olivier (-Eugène-Prosper-Charles) with a free trial on Britannica.com.