New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

Louis Edouard Rod was one of the most
versatile of modern French writer's He
attained a high standing as the author of
romantic psychological fiction. He was
chief editor OF La Revue contenporaine"
in 1884 and professor of comparative liter
ature at the University of Geneva from
1885 10 1895, A Swiss by birth, he studied
at home and in Germany Before going TO
France. He was an impartial observer and
independent thinker, and brought to the
French novel new point of view and
style peculiarly his own.
His first noteworthy production was
defence Of Zola, entitled "Apropos de PAS
senlmeir,' written in 1879, when he WAS
twenty-five years old, socn after his ap-
peranee in Paris. This was followed by
several novels, including Las AIlemands
Paris" written In 1880; Palmyra Ven
lard QssD; La Chute de Miss Topsy''
QsS2); Les Protestants; cote a cote 0Sse); +;
"LAutopsie du Docteur II 0sSD, and La
Femme d'Iienr vaneau' QSS4J None of
these, however, won high commendation
from his critics.
Early ia his career he showed his char
aeteristtc independence of thought by an
attack upon Victor Hugo, i'll which he de-
cisred the great Frenchman knew neither
how to think nor feel for himself, that
his work wa7 little more than the perfect
art of the minor, and that by his strong
personality he robbed those who followed
him of independence and spontaneity He
was himself even firm in his refusal TO
follow the crowd.
The earliest book which commended him
highly to his critics was La Course a la
Mort" which he wrote in 1885. The book
was much talked of. At that time the
young author was contributing to several
papers and magazines end had founded.
with several other men Of his own age
La Revue Contemporaine, which became
the most important of the small magazines
of the period.
Soon after that he took up his work as
professor, but did not on that account
slacken his literary activity As a critic
he produced many notable essays. lie soon
abandoned his work as teacher. however
20 give his whole time to writing In 1899
he gave e. series Of lectures at Harvard
Among his works We're: Short stories
''Nouvelies Romanes' and Scenes de Ia
Vie Cosmopolite." Critical essays-"Etudes
sur lc XIXieme Steele" Les Idees Morales
du Temps Present and ''Esssi sur
Goethe" Novels--"Le Sens De la Vie"
Les Trois Coeurs." La Sacrifice" lie
Dernler RefuEe, La Vie Priyee de Michel
Teissier, La Seconde Vie de Michel Teis-
sier,' lie Silence Les Roches RIanches p"
La Hsute" and lie Menage du Pasteur
Naudie."
NJ. Rod chose his characters chiefly
among the plain people of the lower mid
die classes. He delighted in intimate studies
of these characters Much of his writings
contained a decided note of pessimism. An
otlier trait Of his was passionate love for
his native Switzerland. OF which he always
remained citizen.
The author lived most Of his active life
near Paris. at Auteui not far from the
Bois dc BouioEne lie dWelt there In the
utmost simplicity with his books and
friends. He was a lover of American liter
ature. particularly Of the poems of Poe ana
Whitman. He was an intimate friend az
Henry James.
Just before coming to this country he
said TO friend: I'm dlsgusted with all
things artificial. and If 7 find in America
an isolated corner where 7 can live as
wish. there viii I stay" lie never took nm
hts permanent abode here,