Charles-Albert Demoustier (13 March 1760 â 2 March 1801) was a French writer. He falsely claimed to be a descendant of La Fontaine by his mother and Racine by his father.
Demoustier was born in Villers-Cotterêts. He worked as a lawyer, but later decided to become a writer. In 1786, he published the first part of Lettres àEmilie sur la mythologie. The sixth part was published in 1798. These works, alternating prose and madrigal-like verses, were very successful.
Demoustier tried to edit Lettres ÃÂ Emilie sur la mythologie, but the bookseller who owned the copyrights refused to let him do so, perhaps because he had a stock of earlier copies he wanted to get rid of first. Demoustier was unable to wait, as he died a painful, premature death, in Paris, soon after.
He also wrote comedies, among them:
Demoustier also wrote librettos to some operas (e.g. ÃÂpicure, 1800), a Cours de morale, Opuscules and short Poèmes, 1804.
Four of his poems were set to music by Maurice Jaubert.