Pierre Loti The Legendary Romantic Author:Lesley Blanch The author-adventurer Pierre Loti is a symbol of all that was exotic, and decidedly un-Victorian, in 19th-century France. His work was admired by hjis distinguished contemporaries Marcel Proust, Anatole France and Paul Verlaine. Henry James praised his "remarkable genius." He was admitted to the prestigious Academie Francaise, an... more »d was accorded a state funeral, the only French writer to receive such an honor besides Victor Hugo. He scandalized "polite" society with his many love affairs with both men and women. He lived what most romantics only dared write about.« less