Alphonse Daudet.

Adeline and Vincent Daudet had a son, Alphonse, on 13 May 1840 in Nîmes, France. He grew up with three siblings: Anna, Ernest, and Henri. Brother Ernest Daudet became a writer. The landscapes of southern France later appeared in Daudet’s work, especially Letters from My Windmill.

The short story collection Letters from My Windmill 1869 captures life in Provence. His novel Sapho 1884 became a literary sensation and inspired film adaptations in 1913, 1917, and 1934. Daudet won the Jouy Prize and was named Knight and Officer of the Legion of Honour. He also wrote plays and was part of the naturalist literary movement.

Julia Allard married Daudet, and they had three children: Léon, Lucien, and Edmée. Léon became a writer and journalist. Daudet’s brother Ernest was also a writer. The family moved in Parisian literary circles.

Daudet’s works were adapted after his death, such as the 1954 film Letters from My Windmill. His son Léon Daudet continued the family’s literary legacy. Daudet’s short fiction and his portrayal of Provencal life earned him a lasting readership. He died in Paris on 16 December 1897 at age 57.