About
Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, known as Crébillon père, was a French poet and playwright born in Dijon in 1674 and died in Paris in 1762. He is known for his violent and dark tragedies, inspired by Seneca, which earned him great fame in the 18th century. His masterpiece, Rhadamiste et Zénobie (1711), was a lasting success. Elected to the Académie française in 1731, he became royal censor in 1735. Protected by Madame de Pompadour, he obtained a pension and a post at the royal library. A rival of Voltaire, he marked French tragedy with his pathetic and horrifying style.
* 1674-01-13 — † 1762-06-17
Major works
- Idoménée (1705)tragedy
- Atrée et Thyeste (1707)tragedy
- Électre (1709)tragedy
- Rhadamiste et Zénobie (1711)tragedy
- Catilina (1748)tragedy
Key milestones
- 1731Elected to the Académie française on September 1.
- 1735Appointed royal censor.
- 1745Obtained a pension and a post at the royal library thanks to Madame de Pompadour.
Themes
Tragic violenceHorrorExtreme passionsFatePolitical power
Sources: britannica.com · id.loc.gov · oxfordreference.com