GRANIER DE CASSAGNAC, gra'nyil! de kit'sk'nyttkf, ADOLPIIE ( 1808-80 ) . A French Bona partist and journalist, born in Averon-Bergelle. He went to Paris in 1832. His first work was as a literary critic. He enthusiastically espoused the cause of the Romanticists, and his attack on Racine stirred up all Paris. He abandoned litera ture for politics in 1840, in which year he made a political voyage to the Antilles. In 1845 he started the ultra-Orleanist journal L'Epoque. After the Revolution of 1848 he left Paris. He returned in 1850 as a Bonapartist, and became editor of the Pouvoir. During the Empire he was a Bonapartist member of the French legis lative body, and a passionate Conservative. In 1857 he founded with Barbey d'Aurevilly the short-lived Le 1?eveil. He was connected with other journals in the interest of Napoleon, becom ing, in 1866, the editor-in-chief of the violent Le Pays, with his son Paul as assistant. His
polemical career during this decade was marked by sensational duels, lawsuits, affairs with the po lice, and other evidences of indiscreet zeal. After the fall of the Empire he started Le Drapeau in Brussels. In 1876 he was once more chosen as an anti-republican national Deputy. He died Jan uary 31, 1880. His works include two mediocre novels; also travels (Voyage aux Antilles) ; and his Souvenirs du Second Empire. His most note worthy compilations are his histories: Histoire des classes ouvrieres et des classes bourgeoises (Paris, 1837) ; Histoire du Directoire (1851-63) ; Histoire des Girondins at des massacres de sep tembre (1860), etc. They lack calm judicial qualities and the result of impartial study and investigation, but are characterized by journal istic vigor and graphical power.