Frédéric Mistral Poet and Leader in Provence

"Frédéric Mistral" by Charles Alfred Downer is a deep study of the life and poetic works of Frédéric Mistral, a key figure in the 19th-century Provençal revival. It looks at how Mistral helped to bring back the Provençal language and its literature, documenting his vital work with the Félibrige movement to celebrate Provençal culture. The book starts by showing Mistral as a central leader in his time, explaining his life story and the world he lived in, and describing his commitment to elevating Provençal from a simple dialect to a respected language of literature, alongside his collaborations with others and the challenges he overcame, from his early connection to the Provençal language to his significant efforts to improve its reputation.