INTRODUCTION

Henry Gréville was the notn-de-^lume of Madame Alice Durand, whose maiden name was Alice Marie Céleste Fleury. Bom at Paris, October 12, 1842, she showed at an early age a taste for literature, and under the direction of her father, studied Latin and the sciences, and became especially proficient in English, German, and Italian. She translated into both English and Italian the whole of Fénelon's Télémaque,

When M. Fleury went to live in Saint Petersburg, as Professor of the French Language and Literature in the Imperial University, he was accompanied by his daughter, who was then fifteen years of age. Here she learned the Russian language and was received in the best society. She became greatly interested in Russian life and customs and began to write about them. Several of her stories first appeared in Russian newspapers. After a time she married M. Durand, a French Professor in the Law School of Saint Petersburg.

After her return to France, in 1 872, Madame Durand devoted herself to literature and produced in rapid succession novels of French and Russian life. These were published in various prominent French journals, — the Revue des Deux Mondes^ ^^ Journal des Débats^ Figaro^ the Siècle, and the Temps,

Madame Durand visited America in 1886 and gave lectures in New York and Boston. She died at Paris in 1902.

Henry Gréville's literary activity was remarkable. She wrote some seventy novels, many of which have been decidedly popular. Her work is true to life and exact in the painting of manners and places. Her style is simple and elegant, yet vivid, sparkling, and vivacious. The grace and charm of her presentation and the