INTRODUCTION

René Bazin was born at Angers in 1853. His early years were passed in the country near Legré, a few miles from his birthplace. Because of his f rail constitution he was allowed to roam at will the fields and forests. Thus he came to know nature intimately; the changes of the seasons, heralded by the progressive stages of végétation, the flight of birds of passage, the multiple sounds of rural life. He heard, too, weird taies from poachers,' rat-catchers, wolf-trainers, from ail the nomads of the country side. This life was an admirable training for his powers of observation, which were by nature very keen, and an excellent préparation for the work which he was to do. The results of it may be felt in his books of travel, in his novels and in the séries of sketches published under the title En Province.

After a period of less agreeable stujiy he was admitted to the bar and became professor of law in the university of his native city, Angers. Soon, however, his talent for story-telling, a talent which he first exercised only for the pleasure of children and of intimate friends, led him to begin to write for publication.

Bazin has always possessed the rare gift of seeing