Ernest Flammarion

Ernest Flammarion (May 30, 1846 – January 21, 1936) was a French publisher, founder of the publishing group Groupe Flammarion, which still exists today. He was the brother of Camille Flammarion. The initial success of the company was based on the popular science book Popular Astronomy written by his brother Camille, published in 1878, which became a best-seller in the late 19th century.

Following this, Flammarion Editions diversified by publishing a wide variety of classic and modern French authors (such as Émile Zola, Maupassant, Jules Renard), as well as more popular writers like Hector Malot. Later, the publishing catalog expanded again, covering virtually all sectors with a strong focus on popular science and humanities works.

The company remained family-run, first led by Ernest's son, Charles, and later by his grandson, Henri, who took over the company in 1967. The last descendant of the Flammarion family, Charles-Henri Flammarion, managed the publishing house from 1985 until 2000, when the company was acquired by the Italian group RCS.