Based on a novella by Prosper Mériméé, the libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.

Henri Meilhac was born on February 21, 1831, in Paris, France.

Henri Meilhac died on July 6, 1897, in Paris, France.

Ludovic Hale vy has written:

'The Abbe Constantin'

No. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy and based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée and that itself was influenced by the narrative poem "The Gypsies" (1824) by Pushkin.