Mistral was born in Maillaine,a village in the Rhone Valley of southern France as the only son of a prosperous farmer. In his early years Mistral developed a passionate attachment to the language of his region, Provençal dialect. After receiving his law degree in 1851, Mistral started his career as a writer, and published his first poems next year. In 1854 he founded with other writers an association Félibres for the maintenance of language and customs of Provençe. The group also published an annual journal, Armana Prouvençau.

In 1859 appeared Mistral's pastoral epic MIRÉIO, a major contribution to the Provençal literary movement. It was adapted by the composer Charles Gounod for his opera Mireille (1864).

Mistral devoted 20 years' work to scholary dictionary of Provençial entitled LOU TRESOR DÓU FÉLIBRIGE (The Treasury of Félibres), 2 vols., which was issued between 1880 and 1886. The work contains all the dialects of the language and a wealth of Provençal folklore, traditions, and beliefs.

In the 1880s appeared Mistral's narrative poem about the last days of the popes in Avignon, NERTO, and his only drama, LA RÉINO JANO, six years later. His last great epic, LOU POUÈMO DOU ROSE, was published in 1897.

Among Mistral's other works are his memoirs MOUN ESPELIDO (1906) and LES OLIVADOU (1912), a collection of short lyric poems. Mistral died on March 24, 1914.

For further reading: Mistral by R. Lyle (1953); Introduction to Mistral by R. Aldington (1956); The Lion of Arles by T. Edwards (1964)

Selected works:

• MIRÈIO, 1859 - Mireio: A Provencal Poem
• CALENDAU, 1867
• LIS ISCLO D'OR, 1875
• LOU TRESOR DÓU FÉLIBRIGE, 2 vol. 1878
• NERTO, 1984
• LA RÉINO JANO, 1890 - Queen Jane
• LOU POUÉMO DÓU ROSE, 1897 - The Song of The Rhône
• MOUN ESPELIDO, 1906 - Memoirs of Mistral
• LES OULIVADO, 1912
• PROSE D'ARMANA, 3 vol., 1926-29