Jules Renard

Jules Renard (1864–1910) was a French writer and playwright, born in Châlons-du-Maine and raised in Burgundy. He is best known for the semi-autobiographical novel *Poil de Carotte* (1894), a sharp, compassionate portrait of childhood that he later adapted for the stage. Renard also wrote plays and short prose noted for their precision and irony. His posthumously published *Journal* is regarded as a major work of French diary literature, recording literary life, observations, and aphoristic reflections. Renard was associated with Parisian literary circles and served as mayor of Chitry-les-Mines. He died in Paris in 1910.