Lesage, Alain-René

Lesage, Alain-René

born May 6, 1668, Sarzeau, France
died Nov. 17, 1747, Boulogne

French novelist and playwright.

He studied law in Paris but later abandoned his clerkship to devote himself to literature. His classic The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane (1715–35), one of the earliest realistic novels, was influential in making the picaresque novel a European literary fashion. A prolific satirical dramatist, he adapted Spanish models for his early plays, including the highly successful comedy Crispin, Rival of His Master (1707). He also composed more than 100 comédies-vaudevilles in the tradition of Molière.

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▪ French author
Lesage also spelled  Le Sage  
born May 6, 1668, Sarzeau, Fr.
died Nov. 17, 1747, Boulogne
 prolific French satirical dramatist and author of the classic picaresque novel Gil Blas, which was influential in making the picaresque form a European literary fashion.

      Although he was orphaned at 14 and was always quite poor, Lesage was well educated at a Jesuit college in Brittany and studied law in Paris. He was well liked in the literary salons but chose a family life over a worldly one, marrying Marie-Elisabeth Huyard in 1694. He abandoned his legal clerkship to dedicate himself to literature and received a pension from the Abbot of Lyonne, who also taught him Spanish and interested him in the Spanish theatre.

      Lesage's early plays were adaptations of Spanish models and included the highly successful adapted comedy Crispin, rival de son maître (Crispin, Rival of His Master), performed in 1707 by the Théâtre Français. His prose work Le Diable boiteux (1707; The Devil upon Two Sticks) is of Spanish inspiration, but its satire is aimed at Parisian society. The more popular Théâtre de la Foire gave Lesage greater freedom as an author, and he composed for that company more than 100 comédies-vaudevilles, for which he is considered successor to Molière.

      Lesage's Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane (1715–1735; The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane) is one of the earliest realistic novels. It concerns the education and adventures of an adaptable young valet as he progresses from one master to the next. In the service of the quack Dr. Sangrado, Gil Blas practices on the poorer patients and soon achieves a record equal to his master's, i.e., 100 percent fatalities. In service to Don Mathias, a notorious seducer, he also learns to equal and surpass his master. The sunnier spirit of Gil Blas had a civilizing effect on the picaresque tradition. Unlike most novels of the genre, it ends happily, as Gil Blas retires to marriage and a quiet country life.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Lesage, Alain René — Le·sage (lə säzhʹ), Alain René. 1668 1747. French writer. His novel Gil Blas (1715 1735) had a major influence on modern realistic fiction. * * * …   Universalium

  • Lesage, Alain-René — ► (1668 1747) Escritor francés. Obras dramáticas: Crispin, rival de son maître y Turcaret. Obras narrativas: Le diable boiteux, traducción de El diablo cojuelo (de L. Vélez de Guevara), Le bachelier de Salamanque (novela) y Gil Blas de Santillana …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Alain-René Lesage — Born 6 May 1668(1668 05 06) Sarzeau Died 17 November 1747(17 …   Wikipedia

  • Alain-Rene Lesage — Alain René Lesage Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lesage. Alain René Lesage Activité(s) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alain René Lesage — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lesage. Alain René Lesage Activité(s) …   Wikipédia en Français

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  • Alain-René Lesage — (* 8. Mai 1668 in Sarzeau, Bretagne; † 17. November 1747 in Boulogne sur Mer) war ein französischer Schriftsteller mit gesellschaftskritischem Blick und Sinn für Komik. Er gilt als der erste Autor der französischen Literatur, der ganz vom Verkauf …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alain-René Lesage — (Sarzeau en Morbihan, Bretaña, 8 de mayo de 1668 Boulogne sur Mer, 1747), novelista y dramaturgo francés. Lesage. Estudió leyes y figuró en el Colegio de Abogados parisino desde 1692, pero decidió consagrarse al teatro. En este campo alcanzó su… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Alain-Rene Le Sage —     Alain René Le Sage     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Alain René Le Sage     Writer, b. at Sarzeau (Morbihan), 1668; d. at Boulogne sur Mer, 1747. The son of a notary who died early in the youth s career, he left the Jesuit college of Vannes after …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Alain-René Lesage — (Sarzeau en Morbihan, Bretaña, 8 de mayo de 1668 Boulogne sur Mer, 1747), novelista y dramaturgo francés. Estudió leyes y figuró en el Colegio de Abogados parisino desde 1692, pero decidió consagrarse al teatro. En este campo alcanzó su primer… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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