A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Reybaud, Madame Charles
REYBAUD, MADAME CHARLES,
Is the nomme de plume of Mademoiselle H. Arnaud. She resides in Paris. Why she should have chosen to put away her own name, and give the celebrity of her genius to a fictitious one, has never been made known; but such is the fact. She need not have done this in order to secure the success of her works, which have been received with great favour by the Parisian public.
Madame Reybaud has published over twenty novels and tales, none of which have failed. Her most striking qualities are the unity and perfectness with which she constructs and finishes her plot, each incident and dialogue tending to the completion of the plan; and so ingeniously does she sometimes contrive the story, that the most experienced novel-reader is taken by surprise in the unforseen denouement. Like all who write much, she has produced books of very unequal merit, but the best exhibit both tenderness and wit; and what must be highly commended, because more rare in Flinch novels, there is nothing extravagant in sentiment or offensive to morals to be found in her works. An able English critic has truly said, "Madd, me Charles Reybaud, little known to English readers, is a good and captivating writer of considerable ability. Her numerous productions may be perused without fear by the conscientious and scrupulous reader. We are doing them a service in recommending this interesting author to their notice. She will cheer many a winter evening, and the pleasant languor of a July noon; she will occupy very agreeably the odd hour between the return from the drive and the appearance at the dinner-table. Her intentions and tendencies are good; her sentiments very sweet and delicate; a strong sense of religious and moral responsibility evidently pervades her mind. She introduces her readers to the antique relics of that beautiful and graceful aristocracy—let us give all their due—which was destroyed by the first French revolution."
We subjoin the titles of her most popular works, commending as our favourites, "Les deux Marguerites," "Sans Dot," and "Espagrioles et Françaises." The others are,—"Etona Marianna," "Fabiana," "Geraldine," "Lena," "Madame de Rieux," "Mademoiselle de Chazeuil," "Marie d'Enambue," "Mèzelie," "Misé Brun." "La Pauvre Paysanne," "La Petite Reine," "Romans du Cœur," and "Valdepeiras."