Editing Arthur de Gobineau (section)

===Return to France===
[[File:Arthur de Gobineau.jpg|thumb|1876 portrait of Gobineau by Mathilde Sallier de La Tour]]
In May 1870 Gobineau returned to France from Brazil.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=207}} In a letter to Tocqueville in 1859 he wrote, "When we come to the French people, I genuinely favor absolute power", and as long as Napoleon III ruled as an autocrat, he had Gobineau's support.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=208}} Gobineau had often predicted France was so rotten the French were bound to be defeated if they ever fought a major war. At the outbreak of the war with Prussia in July 1870, however, he believed they would win within a few weeks.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=210}} After the German victory, Gobineau triumphantly used his own country's defeat as proof of his racial theories.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=210}} He spent the war as the ''maire'' (mayor) of the little town of Trie in [[Oise]] department.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|pp=210–211}} After the Prussians occupied Trie, Gobineau established good relations with them and was able to reduce the indemnity imposed on Oise department.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=211}}

Later, Gobineau wrote a book ''Ce qui est arrivé à la France en 1870'' ("What Happened to France in 1870") explaining the French defeat was due to racial degeneration, which no publisher chose to publish.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=213}} He argued the French bourgeoisie were "descended from Gallo-Roman slaves", which explained why they were no match for an army commanded by ''Junkers''.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=214}} Gobineau attacked Napoleon III for his plans to rebuild Paris writing: "This city, pompously described as the capital of the universe, is in reality only the vast caravanserai for the idleness, greed and carousing of all Europe."{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=214}}

In 1871, poet [[Wilfrid Scawen Blunt]] who met Gobineau described him thus:{{blockquote|Gobineau is a man of about 55, with grey hair and moustache, dark rather prominent eyes, sallow complexion, and tall figure with brisk almost jerky gait. In temperament he is nervous, energetic in manner, observant, but distrait, passing rapidly from thought to thought, a good talker but a bad listener. He is a savant, novelist, poet, sculptor, archaeologist, a man of taste, a man of the world."{{sfn|Irwin|2016|pp=321–332}}}} Despite his embittered view of the world and misanthropic attitudes, Gobineau was capable of displaying much charm when he wanted to. He was described by historian [[Albert Sorel]] as "a man of grace and charm" who would have made a perfect diplomat in ''Ancien Régime'' France.{{sfn|Biddiss|1970|p=265}}