About
Pierre Ambroise François Choderlos de Laclos, born 18 October 1741 in Amiens and died 5 September 1803 in Taranto, was a French artillery officer and writer. He is best known for his epistolary novel *Les Liaisons dangereuses* (1782), considered a masterpiece of 18th-century literature and an early example of the psychological novel. Laclos also wrote a comic opera libretto, *Ernestine* (1777), and an essay, *De l'éducation des femmes* (1785). Engaged in politics during the French Revolution, he was imprisoned under the Reign of Terror and later released. He served as a general under Napoleon and conducted ballistic studies. His tomb in Taranto was destroyed, and his remains are lost.
* 1741-10-18 — † 1803-09-05
Major works
- Les Liaisons dangereuses (1782)novel
- Ernestine (1777)comic opera
- De l'éducation des femmes (1785)essay
Key milestones
- 1760-1761Trained at the School of Artillery of La Fère.
- 1782Publication of Les Liaisons dangereuses, an immediate success.
- 1803Died in Taranto, probably of dysentery.
Themes
seduction and manipulationsocial hypocrisylibertinismcharacter psychologycritique of the aristocracy
Sources: britannica.com · britishmuseum.org