LANGLOIS, Simon-Alexandre. Nogent-sur-Marne (or Paris?) 4.8.1788 — Nogent-sur-Marne 11.8.1854. French Indologist. Schoolteacher and Member of Academy in Paris. Studies of Sanskrit under Chézy in Paris. Professor (teacher) of Rhetorics at Lycée de Charlemagne. Inspecteur de l’Académie de Paris. From 1835 member of A.I.B.L. Married, children.
Langlois was the favourite student of Chézy and therefore not in too good relations with Chézy’s enemies like Burnouf and Lassen. Their criticism, however, was not entirely without reason, as he often showed himself rather superficial as a scholar (his review of A. W. von Schlegel’s Bhagavadgītā has been quoted as example). Among his major works, the Harivaṁśa was good enough, but the Rigveda a complete failure, as was promptly pointed out in reviews. It was made from a manuscript. and was full of mistakes, it has been rightly claimed that in such an early phase of Vedic philology it was crazy even to attempt a complete translation.
Publications: Translated: “Dévouement de Viravar. Morceau de l’Hitopadésa”, JA 1, 1822, 239-243.
– Reviews of A. W. von Schlegel’s Bhagavadgītā, JA 4, 1824, 105-116, 236-252 & 5, 1824, 240-252 & 6, 1825, 232-250; of Loiseleur-Deslongchamps’ Manu, JA 2:12, 1833, 142-155.
– Monumens littéraires de l’Inde, ou Mélanges de littérature sanskrite, contenant un exposition rapide de cette littérature (1-48), quelques traductions jusqu’à présent inédites (Hitopad. 49-84, Bhāg.pur. 85-119, Hariv. 120-238) et un aperçu du systeme religieux et philosophique des Indiens d’après leurs propres livres (239-268). 12+268 p. P. 1827.
– Translated from English: Chefs-d’œuvre du theâtre indien traduits de l’original sanscrit en anglais par H. H. Wilson et de l’anglais en français par Langlois, accompagnés de notes et d’éclaircissemens et suivis d’une table alphabétique des noms propres et des termes relatifs à la mythologie et aux usages de l’Inde avec leur explication. 1-2. P. 1828.
– Translated: Harivansa ou Histoire de la famille de Hari, ouvrage formant un appendice du Mahabharata. 1-2. 16+248 & ??? p. L. & P. 1834.
– With L. Dubeux, Indexes to the Amarakocha, edited by Loiseleur-Deslongchamps, in vol. 2. P. 1845.
– “Mémoire sur Crishna, considéré comme personnage historique”, MAIBL 16:2, 1846, 211-235; “Mémoire sur la divinité védique appelée Soma”, MAIBL 19:2, 1853, 326-360.
– Articles in Nouvelle Biographie générale: “Bouddha”, 6, 1855, 887–890, “Câlidâsa”, 8, 1855, 186f., etc.
– Translated: Rig-Véda, ou Livre des Hymnes. 1-4. P. 1848-51, new ed. by Ph.-Éd. Foucaux. P. 1872.
– Souvenirs d’Autun. 1841; translations from Latin, etc.
Sources: Ch. Lenormant, Funerailles de M. S.-A.L. 4 p. P., Inst. Imp. de France 1854; Renou, Maitres 1928, 3f.;; Windisch 140f.; N.B.G. 29, 1859.
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