“Hector Malot the Probitas” Severine called him. This moniker captures the essence of the man behind the name of this street Rue Hector Malot.
Rue Hector Malot, a diagonal stretch that begins at Rue Raclet and merges into Rue Bollier. It is a place where the echoes of Lyon’s past meet the pulse of its present. But who was Hector Malot? Why does this street bear his name?
Hector Malot was born in La Bouille in 1830. He died in 1907 in Fontenay-sous-Bois. He was a novelist and a journalist. Malot began his career by publishing articles. He wrote novels including “Sans Famille” and “En Famille”. “Sans Famille” brought him international fame. It tells the story of Rémi. Rémi is an orphan who faces many trials before finding his real family. Hector Malot also wrote “Le Roman de mes romans”. It is a book that recounts his writings.
Imagine Hector Malot as a young boy in La Bouille. He was lulled by the activity on the Seine. He watched ships depart for distant lands. His mother told him stories of travels. These stories fueled his imagination. This fertile imagination led him to literature.
The street you are standing on tells its own story of transformation. Rue Hector Malot seems to be a remnant of the old Chemin des Culattes. The Chemin des Culattes once traversed Gerland in the 19th century. It was a time before urbanization took hold. Today, the street is undergoing reconstruction. Warehouses are making way for new buildings.
In 2019, new buildings neared completion. They opened onto Rue Bollier. They created an alley that offered a glimpse of the street’s evolution. A triangle planted with trees marks the separation from Rue Raclet. Across the street, a figure enjoys eternal rest in his vegetable garden. Houses stand facing each other across a courtyard. A new house is accessible by an iron staircase. Newer buildings stand beside older structures.
Hector Malot was more than a novelist. He was an advocate for the oppressed. He supported Jules Vallès during his London exile. He offered financial aid and moral support. Malot also championed revisions to laws. These laws concerned mental health, divorce, and children’s rights. He advocated for better working conditions especially for children.
Though the shops and businesses that once lined Rue Hector Malot are fading, replaced by residences, the spirit of Hector Malot remains. The street was once named Rue des Cures. City leaders wanted to connect him to another writer, Clément Marot. Clément Marot’s street also ends at Rue Bollier.
So, as you stroll along Rue Hector Malot, remember the man behind the name. Remember his stories and his commitment to social justice.