Was Jules Claretie thinking of having a street named after him when he wrote novels? Probably not.
Welcome to Rue Jules Claretie a small street in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. This street is a tribute to Jules Claretie. He was a celebrated French novelist and playwright. Rue Jules Claretie is a private street. It starts at 36 Boulevard Emile Augier. The street ends in a dead end.
Jules Claretie was born Arsène Arnaud Claretie. He was born in Limoges. He died in Paris. Claretie was not only a novelist. He was also a playwright, dramatic critic, and historian. He chronicled Parisian life.
Throughout his long career Jules Claretie used many pen names. He used over a dozen to publish his works. He wrote literary works and articles in the press. With Charles Edmond Chojecki he used the collective pseudonym Jules Tibyl.
Claretie collaborated with many newspapers. He wrote for Le Figaro and Le Temps. He used several pseudonyms. He worked as a theater critic. He wrote for l’Opinion nationale. He also wrote for Le Soir and La Presse. He was a friend of Étienne Arago. Claretie published an analysis of Arago’s memoirs in Le Temps.
As a historian, he wrote a history of the Revolution of 1870-1871. Early in his career, he wrote sentimental novels. These novels had melodramatic tones. Examples include Eliza Mercœur and Le Dernier Baiser. Later he wrote detective novels. One was Un Assassin. It was about a society crime. It was a success. Another was Le Petit Jacques. It was a melodrama. It was adapted into several films. It tells of a worker who takes the blame for murder. The real killer promised the worker’s son a good education.
Other works in the detective genre include Jean Mornas and L’Accusateur. Also L’Obsession and some short stories. One short story is L’Homme aux mains de cire. It is about a man who thinks his fiance’s suitor is a vampire. The man stabs his rival in the heart with a blessed dagger. Another is L’Impulsion. It explores the motives behind an apparently random murder.
Jules Claretie also wrote novels about the bourgeoisie and those in power. These include Monsieur le Ministre and Le Million. He also wrote more exotic stories. One is Le Prince Zilah. Several of his novels were adapted for the stage.
In 1894, he wrote the libretto for Massenet’s La Navarraise. He also wrote Amadis. It was based on a chivalrous novel.
Jules Claretie became president of the Société des gens de lettres. In 1882 and 1883, he was vice-president. This was for the Société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques. From 1885 to 1913, he managed the Comédie Française. He opened it to contemporary authors.
In 1907, he wrote the preface to Une amoureuse. It was a novel by Violette Bouyer-Karr. The Académie Française praised the work. Jules Claretie was elected to the Académie Française. He is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Rue Jules Claretie was named after him in 1913. It is 64 meters long. It is 14.05 meters wide. The street was closed to the public. In 2020-2022 a gate replaced the posts at the entrance.
Think of Jules Claretie’s prolific writing as you stroll here. He captured Parisian life in words. This street is a small but lasting monument to his legacy.