About
Octave Mirbeau, born on February 16, 1848, in Trévières and died on February 16, 1917, in Paris, was a French writer. After studies with the Jesuits, he became a journalist and art critic, defending the Impressionists. A prolific novelist, he published notable works such as Le Calvaire (1886), Le Jardin des supplices (1899), and Le Journal d'une femme de chambre (1900). As a playwright, he achieved great success with Les Affaires sont les affaires (1903). A founding member of the Académie Goncourt, he was also involved in the Dreyfus Affair.
* 1848-02-16 — † 1917-02-16
Major works
- Le Calvaire (1886)novel
- Le Jardin des supplices (1899)novel
- Le Journal d'une femme de chambre (1900)novel
- Les Affaires sont les affaires (1903)play
- La 628-E8 (1907)novel
Key milestones
- 1887Married actress Alice Regnault.
- 1903Becomes one of the ten founding members of the Académie Goncourt.
- 1890Publishes Sébastien Roch, a novel inspired by his traumatic experience at the Jesuit college.
Themes
AnticlericalismSocial criticismViolence and crueltyArt and ImpressionismPolitical engagement
Sources: britannica.com · data.bnf.fr · en.wikisource.org