Edmond About

From Philosopedia

About, Edmond François Valentin (1826—1885)

A French novelist and dramatist, About wrote Germaine (1857) and other novels. In Figaro, he wrote under the name of Valentin de Quevilly and produced several plays.

He was a friend of Prince Jerome Bonaparte, who was equally anti-clerical. In 1884 About was named to the French Academy. His drastic rejection of all religious beliefs is seen in his Question romaine (1859), an exposure of what Joseph McCabe describes as “the foul condition of the Papal States before 1870,” adding, “and its style moved Shérer to describe the author as ‘the grandson of Voltaire.’ ”

According to About, an act of faith is

• to close one’s eyes in order to see better.

{RAT}