Stella Blandy

Stella Blandy (née Boué; 24 December 1836 - 18 April 1925) was a French writer and a committed feminist. A contributor to the literary journals Revue contemporaine and Revue des deux mondes, she wrote novels and essays, and also translated English and Italian works into French. Blandy died in 1925.

Biography Françoise-Stella Boué was born 24 December 1836, in the small town of Montesquieu-Volvestre. The family was wealthy and at the time ran the town hall. She was attracted to writing early on in life. Following an excellent education, she immediately continued her studies abroad in England. While there, she married Francis Blandy with whom she had four children; two, Frank and Jeanne, survived early childhood. Her husband died in 1878.

On her return to France, she began publishing her works, enjoying some success. Her novels, with strong regional appeal, were written principally for younger readers. While in Paris, she developed her feminist writing as she established friendships with George Sand and André Léo. In the late 1860s, she became active in the growing feminist movement, contributing to the journal Le Droit des femmes alongside Léon Richer, Maria Deraismes and Hubertine Auclert.

Her publishers included Hetzel, Firmin Didot, Delagrave, Hachette and Armand Colin. Around March 1875, together with Henriette Caroste, Anna Houry, Auclert, Deraismes, and her sister Anna Féresse-Deraismes, Blandy co-signed a letter asking Victor Hugo to support their feminist views.

Blandy collaborated with Revue contemporaine and Revue des deux mondes. She also translated English and Italian works. Among others, Blandy is remembered for her adaptation of Mayne Reid's novel, L’Habitation au désert, under the title Les Robinsons de terre ferme. Her novel La Teppe aux merles, published in 1890, is reminiscent of Alain-Fournier's hero, Le Grand Meaulnes. Stella Blandy died at the age of 88 in the town where she was born.

Complete works

1864, Une Noce dans un Village Mâconnais 1867, La Dernière Chanson, Scène du Mâconnais 1869, Revanche de femme 1869, L'Oncle Philibert 1873, Les Indiscrétions du Princes Svanine. Un Musulman, s'il vous plaît. Le Bruderschaft. Sept pour un. L’Émeraude, 1873 1875, Bénédicte 1877, Le Petit Roi 1878, Les Robinsons de Terre Ferme (adaptation of L'Habitation au désert by Mayne Reid) 1880, Le Procès de l'absent 1881, La Dette de Zeéna, 1881, Six pence, conte de Noël 1881, Sous le Guy (novel) 1882, La Benjamine 1882, La Fille de Hakim 1883, Les Épreuves de Norbert 1883, Un oncle à héritage 1884, Trois sous neufs (novel) 1885, Mont Salvage 1885, Mon ami et moi 1885, Tante Marise 1886, Trois contes de Noël 1887, Rouzétou 1888, Fils de veuve 1888, La Pie au nid 1888, La Pierre de touche 1890, La Teppe aux merles 1890, La Part du cadet 1890, Le Bouquet d'algues 1891, La Pièce de douze sous 1892, Castelvert 1893, Berthe la Frisonne. À l'aveuglette. Bec-d'Acier 1893, Le Protégé d'Alice 1894, Le Droit Chemin. Par la Traverse. La Veste du Colporteur 1895, Au tournant du Chemin 1897, Le Capitaine aux pieds nus 1902, La Dame noire. Une Trouvaille. Sur la Pierre du souvenir 1903, Le Siège de Calais 1904, D'une rive à l'autre