Hector Malot was a renowned French author, born in the small town of La Bouille, Seine-Maritime. He pursued a legal education in Rouen and Paris, but his true passion lay in literature. Malot's professional journey began in literary criticism, where he worked as a dramatic critic for Lloyd Francais and as a literary critic for L'Opinion Nationale.
Malot's literary career took off with the publication of his first book, Les Amants, in 1859. His prolific writing skills led to the creation of over 70 books, a testament to his dedication and creativity. Among his vast body of work, his most famous piece is undoubtedly "Sans Famille" (Nobody's Boy, 1878). This compelling novel, which follows the journeys of the young orphan Remi after he is sold to the street musician Vitalis at the age of 10, gained immense popularity as a children's book, although it was not originally intended for this audience.
In 1895, Malot announced his retirement from writing fiction. However, his love for literature proved too strong, and he returned to the literary world in 1896 with the novel "L'amour Dominateur" and the account of his literary life, "Le Roman de mes Romans" (The Novel of my Novels). These works marked a significant milestone in his career, reflecting on his life and contributions to French literature.