About
Augustin-Eugène Scribe, born in Paris in 1791, was the most popular and prolific playwright of 19th-century Europe. He perfected the 'well-made play', a tightly constructed dramatic formula that dominated European theatre for over a century. Author of about 400 plays and nearly 140 opera librettos, he collaborated with the greatest composers of his time, including Auber, Meyerbeer, Halévy, and Verdi. Elected to the Académie française in 1834, he was also a champion of authors' rights, helping to found the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques. He died in Paris in 1861.
* 1791-12-24 — † 1861-02-20
Major works
- Le Verre d'eau (1840)play
- Adrienne Lecouvreur (1849)drama
- La Muette de Portici (1828)opera libretto
- Les Huguenots (1836)opera libretto
- La Juive (1835)opera libretto
Key milestones
- 1834Elected to the Académie française.
- 1829Co-founded the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques.
- 1857Named president for life of the Société des Auteurs.
Themes
Intrigue and schemingLove and marriagePower and politicsCoexistence of social classesPlay within a play
Sources: britannica.com · oxfordreference.com