Villemain, Abel-François

(1790-1870)

   professor, political figure

   Born in Paris, Abel-François Villemain, who was professor of literature at the sorbonne (1816-30), published his Cours de littérature française (1828-29), which helped to revive French literary studies by introducing historical criticism and insisting on the role of social interpretations in the study of foreign literature (Études de littérature ancienne et étrangère, 1846). Elected deputy shortly before the revolution of 1830, a peer of France in 1832, member of the Nicolas soult ministry (1839-40), Villemain was named minister of public instruction (1840-44) and fought for reforms in secondary schooling, in particular for its secularization. He was elected to the Académie Française in 1821.