O'Rell, Max, 1848-1903

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1848-03-02

Death 1903-05-25

Gender:

Male

Nationality: Britons,

Language: English, French,

Biographical notes:

Max O'Rell was the pseudonym of English writer and lecturer Paul Blouët. He was notorious for his examination of English social mores in such works as John Bull and his island.

From the description of Max O'Rell letters and portrait, 1887-1894. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 52075157

American writer Paul Blouët known by pseudonym Max O'Rell.

From the description of Letters to S.S. McClure, 1890, n.d. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 49620736

French author and lecturer.

From the description of Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1887. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 183210851

Max O'Rell, the pen name of Paul Blouët, was born in Brittany and served as a calvary officer in the Franco-Prussian War, where he was wounded at the siege of Paris. He went to England as a newspaper correspondent, and taught French at London's Saint Paul's School. He found enormous success with his first book, John Bull et son ile (John Bull and his island), a pointedly humorous look at English society and culture. Several other books in the series followed, and O'Rell followed up his success with popular lecture tours in England and America. He eventually retired to France, where he continued to write, serving as a special correspondent for the New York Journal.

From the description of Paul Blouët letters, 1889-1902. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 69937638

From the description of Paul Blouët autograph letters, 1895-1896 (Library Educators RDA Funnel). WorldCat record id: 688363958

Author.

From the description of Letters, 1887-1896. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 37002417

Paul Blouet (1848-1903) was a French humorist and writer best known by his pseudonym, Max O'Rell. Blouet studied piano at the Paris Conservatoire, was educated in Paris at the Ecole Polytechnique, and served as a cavalry officer in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1887 Blouet published John Bull et son ile, a work that parodied English characteristics and eccentricities. In 1887 and 1890 Blouet lectured in the United States, where his humorous speeches made him extremely popular. In 1902 he settled in the Champs-Élysées quarter of Paris as correspondent of the New York Journal and wrote in the French newspaper Le Figaro . Blouet died of stomach cancer on 24 May 1903.

Works Cited: Seccombe, T. and Matthew, C.G. (2004). Blouet, (Leon) Paul. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved July 24, 2006 from http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/31933

From the guide to the Paul Blouet correspondence MS 129., 1885-1903, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, Texas)