Born in Paris, from 1790 onward, Ducray-Duminil was the literary editor of Les Petites Affiches where he was known for the great forbearance of his reviews. A member of several literary societies, most notably of the Société du Caveau, he wrote poetry and lyrics as well as a few plays that were never produced. He is best known as a writer for children and young adults, a genre in which he became extremely popular. Worried about the moralmessage of his works, he saw to it that virtue and innocence should prevail after a series of ingenious twists in the plot. In Les MisérablesVictor Hugo refers to his works as "stupid romances" which the favourite reading of Madame Thénardier. Critics ridiculed his style and syntax, but he mainly aimed at clarity, an essential quality considering the type of audience he was addressing. His imagination was fertile, and the enduring success of his work is largely due to his talent as a story-teller. Many playwrights borrowed from his plots. He died in Ville-d'Avray.
Works
Most of his novels ran into several editions, for example : Lolotte et Fanfan, ou Histoire de deux enfants abandonnés dans une île déserte ; Alexis, ou la Maisonnette dans les bois ; Petit Jacques et Georgette, ou les Petits montagnards auvergnats ; Victor, ou l’Enfant de la forêt ; Cœlina, ou l'Enfant du mystère , one of his two most popular works ; les Cinquante Francs de Jeannette ; les Petits orphelins du hameau , 4 vol. in-12 ; Paul, ou la Ferme abandonnée ; Jules, ou le Toit paternel ; le Petit Carillonneur ; Jean et Jeannette, ou les Petits aventuriers parisiens , L'Hermitage Saint-Jacques ou Dieu, le Roi et la Patrie, 1815, etc. His other works include a poem upon the death of the duke of Brunswick ; la Semaine mémorable ou Tableau de larévolution depuis le 12 juin 1789 ; Codicille sentimental, ou recueil de discours, contes, anecdotes, idylles, romances et poésies fugitives ; Soirées de la chaumière ; les Veillées de ma grand’mère, nouveaux contes de fées ; Journées au village, ou Tableau d'une bonne famille ; le Bon oncle et les neveux, annuaire moral ; Contes de Fées, etc.
