Jean Marie Napoléon Désiré Nisard (20 March 1806 – 27 March 1888)[1] was a French writer and literary critic. He was born at Châtillon-sur-Seine.
In 1826 he joined the staff of the Journal des Débats, but subsequently transferred his pen to the National. Under the empire he was inspector-general of education (1852) and director of the École normal (1857–1867).[2]
Nisard's literary reputation was established by his Histoire de la littérature française (1844–1861). This work helped to secure his election to the Académie Française in 1850 as seat 39.[3] His other works include Études d'histoire et de littérature (1859–1864), and Les Quatres grands historiens latins (1875).[2]
In all his books Nisard vigorously supported the claims of classicism against romanticism.[2][4][5] He is the object of the loathing of the narrator in the postmodern book Démolir Nisard, by the French writer Eric Chevillard.[6]
Nisard died at San Remo in 1888.[2]
The school Lycée polyvalent Désiré Nisard in Châtillon-sur-Seine was named after Nisard.
Nisard had been a fierce adversary of the Romantic movement