Paul Lacroix French writer Date of Birth: 27.02.1806 Country: France

1. Paul Lacroix, aka Bibliophile Jacob
2. Early Life and Career
3. Major Works
4. Historical and Biographical Writings
5. Literary Explorations and Minor Works
6. Family and Legacy

Paul Lacroix, aka Bibliophile Jacob

French writer Paul Lacroix, better known by his pseudonym "Bibliophile Jacob," was a prolific author and librarian of the Arsenal Library.

Early Life and Career

Lacroix's exceptional productivity is marked by a controversial aspect: not all works attributed to him were solely his creations. Like Alexandre Dumas père, Lacroix's name often served as a "brand" for countless novels deemed his own. His repertoire included historical and pseudo-historical romances such as "L'Assassinat d'un roi" and "Les soirées de sir Walter Scott à Paris."

Major Works

Lacroix collaborated on Henri Martin's "Histoire de France" and "Hist. de Soissons." He later embarked on an ambitious but unfinished "Histoire de France XVI siècle." Notably, he co-authored the lavishly illustrated "Le Moyen Age" and "La Renaissance" (1847-1852) with Siré.

Historical and Biographical Writings

Lacroix's extensive historical writings encompassed diverse topics. He covered the history of prostitution in "Hist. de la prostitution chez tous les peuples" and Napoleon III's reign in "Histoire politique et populaire de Napoleon III." His unfinished biography of Nicholas I, "Histoire de la vie et du règne de Nicolas I, empereur de Russie," earned him a pension from the Russian court.

Literary Explorations and Minor Works

Lacroix's literary endeavors included "Enigmes et découvertes," "Mélanges," and "Dissertations bibliographiques." His fascination with Molière was evident in "Biographie molièresque" and "Iconographie molièresque."

Family and Legacy

Lacroix's younger brother, Jules Lacroix (1809-87), was a renowned poet and one of Karolina Sobanska's husbands. Despite the controversies surrounding his authorship, Paul Lacroix's prolificacy and breadth of work left an enduring mark on French literature and historical writing.