Author. He received much acclaim for being a 19th Century French novelist and literary critic, who was influential in social ideas and materialism. His writings were haunted, mystery tales that would explored a hidden motive and Devilish crime without being explicitly concerned with the supernatural. He was proudly a minor member of Normandy nobility. Born Jules-Amedee Barbey, he used the double surname of Barbey d'Aurevilly after receiving an inheritance from an uncle. He study at Stanislas College in Paris from 1827 to 1829, at Caen taking law courses from 1829 to 1833, and started writing periodicals in Paris in 1837. Although he had a poor income, he went to great length to become a dandy with his flamboyant fashions and attitudes. In 1868, he and Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve were co-literacy critics for the Paris newspaper, "Le Constitutionel," and with Sainte-Beuve's death a year later, he held the position alone. He became to be known as "The Constable of Literature" as his reputation grew. Although he was very respected, his criticisms were often harsh especially of Emile Zola and the Naturalist School, but his verdicts have stood the test of time. He recognized the talents of Honore de Balzac, Stendhal, and Charles Baudelaire when their careers were not promising. His greatest literary works were after his 1851 "An Old Mistress" and the 1854 "L'Ensorcelee." Two of his best novels were set against the background of the French Revolution. The 1864 "Ke Chevalier des Touches," which dealt with the rebellion of Norman outlaws against the French Republic; and the 1865 "A Married Priest" are most notable, but often considered his best, is the 1874 "Les Diboliquest," a collection of six short stories about "Weird Women". From the silent movie era to present day, his novels have influenced at least four Hollywood films with him being given credit for writing. He also influenced many up-coming writers. In 1926 his cremated ashes were transferred to the Normandy churchyard in St. Sauveur le Vicomte from Cimetiere de Montparnasse, his original burial site in Paris.