JEANNE MARIE LEPRINCE DE BEAUMONT
French author (1711-1780)
Biography:
Jeanne Marie Leprince de Beaumont was born in Rouen in 1711. In 1748 her first book appears, Le Triomphe de la vérité ou mémoires de M. de La Vilette. She goes to London where she becomes tutor of upper-class girls. Then she begins writting magazines or pedagogic treatises on children's education. She founded Nouveau Magazine français, a literary and scientific compilation for young readers. Between 1750 and 1780 there are 40 volumes published, among wich the famous Magazines pour les enfants (1757) where Beauty and the Beast can be found, Magazine des adolescents (1760) and Magazine des pauvres (1768). At the age of 50 she leaves England and gets married to Thomas Pichon, with whom she has 6 children.
Madame Leprince de Beaumont and Magazine pour enfants:
In 1758 Leprince de Beaumont publishes her first magazine called Magasin des enfants ou Dialogue entre une sage gouvernante et plusieurs de ses élèves de grande distinction to make young people think, talk and act. There she shows them their defaults and how to correct their behaviour. She tries to educate their hearts and their minds. This search for a specific literature, which attemps to amuse and educate at the same time, brought about admiration and criticism.