Paul Arène

Arène was born in Sisteron, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the son of Adolphe, a clockmaker, and Reine, a cap presser.

A short play which enjoyed some success at the Odéon, Pierrot héritier, led him to leave the university, and to journalism in 1865, aged 23.

He started to contribute to Figaro littéraire and composed his first Provençal verses, which were published in the Almanach avignonnais by Joseph Roumanille.

The subject of all of his Provençal pieces is the area, and particularly the countryside, around Sisteron: Fontfrediero, Lis Estello negro, Raubatori.

He also wrote La Chèvre d'or, Les Ogresses, Le Midi bouge and Domnine.