A distant genesis
Although the Fontainebleau forest conceals petroglyphs in its rocky shelters, reflecting prehistoric beliefs and mythologies, it wasn't until the 14th century that the first book in the strict sense of the term appeared in the region. Jehan de Brie, born in Villiers-sur-Rognon, left us a treatise on sheep breeding, written at the request of Charles V. This first step into the world of letters was followed in the 16th century by the writings of Jacques Amyot. Born in Melun, this humanist, a close friend of François I and tutor to Charles IX and Henri III, helped establish the French language. Then came Bossuet, known as the eagle of Meaux; Molière, Fouquet's protégé; Ronsard, whose poem "à la rose" was perhaps inspired by the rose growers of Provins..
Inspired writers
In the 19th century, Gretz-sur-Loing saw Balzac fall in love with Madame de Berny, the lover who inspired Le Lys dans la vallée, while Provins and Nemours set the scene for Pierrette and Ursule de Mirouët. Stéphane Mallarmé, "impressionist poet" and symbolist figure, made his home in Valvins, in an old inn on the banks of the Seine. And, in his own time, travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson discovered a veritable "artists' barracks" when he arrived in Barbizon, and went on to visit numerous villages, including Grez-sur-Loing, where he stayed for three years. It was the château du Plessis-Picard in Réau that inspired the beginning of Indiana, one of George Sand's first novels: "The château was a large villa from the time of Louis XVI, set in the middle of Brie, two leagues from Melun..." As for Jules Grenier, born in Villiers-sur-Morin, who liked to surround himself with painters, he paid a powerful tribute to his country with La Brie d'autrefois, mœurs et coutumes des bords du Grand Morin. Pierre Mac Orlan, author of Quai des Brumes and of the preface to Robert Goffin's book Aux frontières du jazz, also settled in Saint-Cyr-sur-Morinin the Seine-et-Marnais region. Mac Orlan was a frequent visitor to L'auberge de l'Œuf dur, a haven for painters, writers, musicians and singers from Montmartre.
From the 20th century to the present day
It was later in Avon that Katherine Mansfield arrived one day to live out the last years of her life. The writer and poetess is said to have often walked through the Forêt de Fontainebleau. We can't conclude this quick overview without mentioning Edouard Bled, author of the famous little book full of conjugations and grammar rules. We should also mention Bois-le-Roi, where Anatole France wrote Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard. Alain Peyrefitte was mayor of Provins from 1965 to 1997, senator of Seine-et-Marne and vice-president of the Conseil Général from 1982 to 1988. He also wrote an extensive bibliography, including the famous Quand la Chine s'éveillera ... published in 1973. François Cavanna also fell under the spell of the Briard region, as did André Comte-Sponville, a philosopher known to the general public for his "Petit traité des grandes vertus". Today, many authors and translators live in Seine-et-Marne: Corinne Atlan, Daniel Abel, Kaz, Guillaume Lebeau, Yvan Berrebi, Chantal Antier, David Bry, Marie Borin and many others!
