Many of them were familiar from childhood with the fables of La Fontaine. Or they had read Voltaire or Racine or Molière in English translations. But that was about the sum of any familiarity they had with French literature. And none, of course, could have known in advance that the 1830s and '40s in Paris were to mark the beginning of the great era of Victor Hugo, Balzac, George Sand, and Baudelaire, not to say anything of Delacroix in painting or Chopin and Liszt in music.
Many Americans had only a basic understanding of French literature, primarily through childhood stories like La Fontaine's fables or English translations of works by notable authors such as Voltaire, Racine, and Molière. This limited exposure did not prepare them for the cultural explosion that was about to occur in Paris during the 1830s and 1840s.
During this period, celebrated figures like Victor Hugo, Balzac, George Sand, and Baudelaire emerged, significantly influencing literature and the arts. This vibrant era also showcased the works of visual artist Delacroix and composers Chopin and Liszt, marking a pivotal moment in the cultural history of Paris that would shape artistic expression for years to come.
