biography
| name: |
Boileau(-Despréaux), Nicolas
|
pronunciation:
[bwahloh]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1636–1711)
|
| biography:
| Poet and critic, born in Paris, France. He studied law and theology at Beauvais, but, as a man of means, devoted himself to literature. In 1677 the king appointed him, with Racine, official royal historian. L'Art poétique (Poetic Art), imitated by Pope in the Essay on Criticism, was published in 1674, along with the first part of the serio-comic Lutrin. His influence as a critic has been profound. He set up good sense, sobriety, elegance, and dignity of style as the cardinal literary virtues. |
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