French · 1844–1924
Anatole France dominated French letters at the turn of the twentieth century with a skeptical intelligence and polished irony that earned him the 1921 Nobel Prize in Literature. His novels—"Penguin Island," "The Gods Are Athirst," "The Revolt of the Angels"—satirized religion, politics, and human folly with Voltairean wit. France combined erudition with accessibility, producing work that entertained while it provoked. His reputation has faded since his death, but his influence on French prose style endures.