The Holy Man of Tours: Or, the Life of Léon Papin-Dupont, who Died at Tours in the Odor of Sanctity, March 18, 1876

Published in the late nineteenth century, this biographical volume chronicles the life of Léon Papin-Dupont, a French layman and devotee whose public displays of piety in Tours earned him significant local renown during his lifetime. The text explores his religious influence and the veneration that followed his death in 1876, capturing the specific Catholic milieu of nineteenth-century France that focused on the Holy Face devotion and the promotion of saintly candidates among the laity.

The work was authored by Pierre Désiré Janvier, a contemporary who sought to document the life and legacy of the man often referred to as the Holy Man of Tours. The writing reflects the hagiographic tradition of the era, focusing on the subject's supposed miracles and his influence over local religious practices. It serves as a primary piece of literature for those interested in the history of French religious movements and the canonization processes of the nineteenth century.