Pierre-Jean-Baptiste Choudard, known under the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

of Desforges, (15 September 1746 – 13 August 1806) was a French actor, dramatist, librettist and man of letters.

Biography

Choudard was born in Paris, the natural son of Dr. Antoine Petit. He was educated at the

Collège Mazarin Mazarin may refer to: *Cardinal Mazarin, 17th-century minister to the French king *Rethel, formerly the Duchy of Mazarin, a commune in France * Mazarin River, a river in Canada * ''Mazarin'' (album), a 2003 pop music album See also *"The Adventure ...

and the Collège de Beauvais and, in accordance with his father's wishes, began the study of medicine. He then turned to painting and did casual work. Dr. Petit's death left him dependent on his own resources, and after appearing on the stage of the Comédie-Italienne in Paris he joined a troupe of wandering actors, whom he served in the capacity of playwright. He was known under the

of Desforges, which also was the name he had on the stage. He married an actress; the two were welcomed in Saint Petersburg, where they spent three years (1779 to 1782). After his return to Paris he dedicated himself completely to literature. Desforges was one of the first to avail himself of the new facilities afforded under the Revolution for divorce and remarriage. His memoirs are said to have been undertaken at the request of Madame Desforges. He died in Paris in 1806.

Works

Theater

Selected plays and librettos

* ''Tom Jones à Londres'',

1782 Events January–March * January 7 – The first American commercial bank (Bank of North America) opens. * January 15 – Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris goes before the United States Congress to recommend establish ...

, after Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling; This play was on the repertoire of the Théâtre français during a long time. * ''L’Épreuve villageoise'',

1785 Events January–March * January 1 – The first issue of the ''Daily Universal Register'', later known as ''The Times'', is published in London. * January 7 – Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries tr ...

, music by André Grétry, his first great success * ''La Femme jalouse'',

, after George Colman the Elder *
Le Sourd, ou l'Auberge pleine
',

1790 Events January–March * January 8 – United States President George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City. * January 11 – The 11 minor states of the Austrian Netherlands, which took p ...

, on Gallica * ''Joconde'' (or ''La Joconde''),

opéra-comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...

, music by

Louis Jadin Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis ( ...

, 1790, after La Fontaine *
Alisbelle, ou les Crimes de la féodalité, opéra en 3 actes, en vers
', 1794 in literature, 1794, music by Louis Jadin, on Gallica * ''Les Époux divorcés'', 1799, a comedy
Coesarine et Victor, ou Les époux dès le berceau, comédie en trois actes et en vers libres
1800 in literature, 1800, on Gallica

Complete list

Plays and premieres
o
cesar

Novels

* His novels, first published in four Duodecimo#Traditional inch-based paper sizes, 12mo volumes in 1798, were published again in the same format in five volumes in 1819 in literature, 1819.

Revolutionary writings

* Citizen Desforges' play ''#Alisbelle, Alisbelle, ou les Crimes de la féodalité'' was in tune with the ideas of the French Revolution. He also published revolutionary poems and a ''Plan of general education''.

Memoirs

* ''Le poëte, ou Mémoires d'un homme de lettres écrits par lui-même'', 4 vols (1798 in literature, 1798).

Notes and references

* Gustave Vapereau
"Desforges (Pierre-Jean-Baptiste Choudard)", p. 616
in ''Dictionnaire universel des littératures'', Paris: Hachette 1876, on Google books
Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.)

External links

Desforges
on Data.bnf.fr {{DEFAULTSORT:Desforges, Pierre Jean Baptiste Choudard Writers from Paris 1746 births 1806 deaths 18th-century French dramatists and playwrights French male essayists 18th-century French male writers