LA HARPE, JEAN Fit.kmois DE, 1739-1803; b. Paris; began his literary life at a very early age by inditing satirical verses, which brought him under severe discipline, at the hands of the government. He next devoted himself to dramatic writing, but though with some success, it was not to his mind commensurate with the ability of his work, and he grew disheartened and dissatisfied. In 1766 lie visited Voltaire at Ferney, and remained his guest during the next two years. Returning to Paris, he devoted himself to criticism, becoming a regular .contributor to the Mercure de _Fiance. He obtained a general reputation for the severity .of his judgments, which did not, how ever, prevent his success in his new department, and he won a number of prizes from the French academy. But, curiously enough, his chief reward was gained through the production of Melanie, (ruin Religieuse, a play winch was the cause of his gaining a seat in the academy. It is a somewhat remarkable coincidence that while the Swiss states
man La Harpe was engaged in teaching the two sons of Paul, grand duke of Russia, file French critic La Harpe was in correspondence with the grand duke himself, this cor respondence being afterwards published. La Harpe, like his namesake, was a strong republican, and an adherent of Robespierre, yet he was so little determined in his opinions that he was imprisoned during the existence of the directory, a fact which resulted in overthrowing in him all his former Voltairean ideas, and inclining him to the profession of positive religious views. La Harpe's chief work was the Lyede, on Caws de Litterature Ancienne et Moderne, 12 vols., Paris, 1799-1805.