The purpose of this work is to establish the relationship between the Romantic drama in France of the period 1829-1843 (circa) and the melodrama or "popular tragedy" which flourished in the second-class theatres during the first three decades of the nineteenth century. Since the essence of the melodrama of that period is found in the works of Guilbert de Pixerecourt (a fact which no student of French literature will deny) it has been thought sufficient to concentrate attention on these works and their connection with the Romantic drama, rather than to treat all or a large number of the many authors of melodrama who helped to flood the popular stage at that time.