The son of a banker guillotined during the French Revolution, De Kock began his career as a bank clerk. He began writing plays and libretti for the opera very early, and in 1811 published his first novel, L'Enfant de ma femme. During the 1820s he began publishing a series of novels dealing with Parisian life that provided an excellent view of Parisians. The works were extremely popular abroad, especially in England, where he became one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's favourite authors. De Kock was extremely prolific and produced some one hundred volumes., the vast majority dealing with life in middle-class Paris. Although De Kock lacked style, probably because of his limited education, his works were nevertheless excellent pictures of life and amusements in Paris, His works include Georgette (1820), Gustave le mauvais sujet (1821), Monsieur Dupont (1825), Frere Jacques (1827), Le Cocu (1831), La pucelle de Belleville (1834), Un tour louron (1837) and L'Amant de la Lune (1847). His memoirs were published posthumously in 1873. |
