Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve was a French literary critic and essayist born on December 23, 1804. He is best known for his work in the field of literary criticism, particularly through his series of essays titled Causeries du lundi, which analyzed the works of various authors and explored their contributions to literature. Sainte-Beuve's approach emphasized the importance of understanding an author's life and context to fully appreciate their work. In addition to his criticism, Sainte-Beuve was also a poet and a member of the Académie Française. His influence extended to many writers of his time, including Gustave Flaubert and Marcel Proust, who admired his insights. Sainte-Beuve passed away on October 13, 1869, leaving a lasting impact on literary criticism.