BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Emile Erckmann was bom in 1822 in Pfalzburg. Alexandre Chatrian first saw the light in 1826 in the village of Soldatenthal, near Pfalzburg.

After completing their studies in the public schools of Pfalzburg, Erckmann went to Paris to study law, while Chatrian went to Brussels in order to engage in business. Not finding his occupation congenial to his mind, he retumed to his native town and engaged in teaching. Hère he met again his former fellow student, Erckmann, who had been compelled to retum home owing to a severe illness. The two now became intimate f ri ends, and soon afterwards formed a literary partnership which is without a parallel in the history of letters, and which fully justifies the French expression so often used' in this connection, " ce sont deux têtes dans un bonnet."

In 1852 Chatrian went to Paris as an employé in a railroad office, and his friend accompanied him* for the purpose of resuming his légal studies.

Their first joint literary productions were some " Contes," published in the papers of their native town, which, however, attracted but little attention. It was not until 1859 that they published a really successful book, which was entitled *' n Illustre Docteur Matheuse This was foUowed by numerous other " Contes," and later by their " Romans nationaux* most of which, especially '* Le Conscrit de 18 13" and " Waterlooy'' at once became immensely popular, and are at présent more generally known than any of their other works.