France has been the breeding ground of the world’s greatest literary figures and intellectuals. The country has produced some of the finest works and often served as the initiator of new trends in European literature. Interestingly, it is these trends that have passed on to the world, thus becoming a global trend in literature. While French novels and short stories are widely read and translated, French drama has been equivocally appreciated for the finesse that they possess. Tracing it roots way back to the 12th century, French theatre has a come a pretty long way since its Middle Age and Renaissance days. With its eventful history and glorious past, much of the opulence and magnificence that the theatre of France today enjoys is due to the work of proficiently talented French playwrights. And if you don’t believe us, check this. France has been the address of some of the world’s greatest playwrights like Alexander Dumas, Charles Riviere Dufresny, Emile Augier, Eugène Brieux, Victorien Sardou, Thomas Corneille, Alfred Jarry, Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Antonin Artaud and so on. A key trademark of their work is an intense plot that is embroidered by a tight yet crisp story and dramatic dialogues. With this segment, explore the life and works of some of the greatest French playwrights.
Alexandre Dumas24 July 1802
Jules Verne08 February 1828
Writer
Honoré de Balzac20 May 1799
French Novelist and Playwright
Gustave Flaubert12 December 1821
Novelist, Writer
Cyrano de Bergerac06 March 1619
Dramatist and Playwright
Antonin Artaud04 September 1896
Dramatist, Poet, Essayist, Actor, & Theatre
Alphonse Daudet13 May 1840
Novelist, Short story writer, playwright, poet
Alfred de Musset11 December 1810
Dramatist, Poet, Novelist
Alfred de Vigny27 March 1797
Poet, Playwright, Novelist
Colette28 January 1873
Novelist, Ghostwriter, Journalist, Writer,
Alejandro Jodorowsky17 February 1929
Writer, Film director, Actor, Playwright,
W. Somerset Maugham25 January 1874
Playwright, Novelist, Writer, Screenwriter
Denis Diderot05 October 1713
Philosopher, Novelist, Essayist, Encyclopédistes,
Olympe de Gouges07 May 1748
Playwright, Journalist, Philosopher, Writer,
Jean Genet19 December 1910
Writer, Playwright, Poet, Film director,
Marguerite Duras04 April 1914
Writer, Film director, Screenwriter, Publisher,
Alain Badiou17 January 1937
Philosopher, Novelist, Playwright, Editor,
Boris Vian10 March 1920
Polymath, Singer, Poet, Trumpeter, Lyricist,
Jean Racine22 December 1639
Dramatist
Tristan Tzara16 April 1896
Art collector, Poet, Writer, Diplomat, Film
Romain Rolland29 January 1866
Writer, Playwright, Essayist, Historian, Novelist,
Françoise Sagan21 June 1935
Writer, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter,
Marcel Pagnol28 February 1895
Theatre director, Film director, Writer,
Edmond Rostand01 April 1868
Playwright, Writer, Poet, Essayist, Screenwriter
Alfred Jarry08 September 1873
Playwright, Writer, Poet, Novelist
Prosper Mérimée28 September 1803
Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Historian,
Jean Anouilh23 June 1910
Playwright, Screenwriter, Writer
Gabriel Marcel07 December 1889
Playwright, Philosopher, Writer, University
Philippe de Rothschild13 April 1902
Winegrower, Screenwriter, Socialite, Racecar
Gao Xingjian04 January 1940
Writer, Painter, Translator, Novelist, Playwright,
Yasmina Reza01 May 1959
Actor, Linguist, Translator, Playwright, Novelist,
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle10 May 1760
Composer, Poet, Writer, Playwright
François Mauriac11 October 1885
Writer, Journalist, Poet, Novelist, Playwright,
Paul Claudel06 August 1868
Playwright, Poet, Diplomat, Writer, Diarist, Poet
Raymond Queneau21 February 1903
Poet, Playwright, Novelist, Writer, Screenwriter,
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Roland Topor07 January 1938
Painter, Actor, Screenwriter, Writer, Novelist,
Sacha Guitry21 February 1885
Screenwriter, Actor, Playwright, Film director,
Pierre de Marivaux04 February 1688
Playwright, Writer, Journalist, Novelist
Fernando Arrabal11 August 1932
Screenwriter, Film director, Actor, Playwright,
Jean Giraudoux29 October 1882
Playwright, Screenwriter, Diplomat, Novelist,
Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle11 February 1657
Philosopher, Poet, Writer, Playwright, Satirist,
Octave Mirbeau16 February 1848
Novelist, playwright, journalist, pamphleteer
Benjamin Fondane14 November 1898
Linguist, Poet, Librarian, Film director,
Arthur Adamov23 August 1908
Playwright
Eugene Ionesco26 November 1909
Playwright
Pierre de Beaumarchais24 January 1732
Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh21 June 1910
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt28 March 1960
Playwright, Literary historian, Writer,
Louise-Rose-Etiennette Gerard05 April 1871
Pierre-Jules Renard22 January 1864