MAGNIN, Charles, a French author, born in Paris, Nov. 4, 1793, died there, Oct. 7, 1862. He received a brilliant education, and became in 1813 assistant in the imperial library, and in 1832 one of the directors of that institution. His theatrical criticisms in the Globe (1826-'30), his lectures at the Sorbonne (1834-'5) on the origin of the modern stage, and his various writings won for him the praise of Sainte-Beuve, and a seat in the academy of inscriptions and belles-lettres. He also wrote poetry and plays. His principal works are: Origines du théâtre moderne (1838); Causeries et méditations (2 vols., 1843); Théâtre de Hroswitha (1845, with text and translation); and Histoire des marionettes (1852).