André Obey (; 8 May 1892 at

Douai Douai ( , , ; ; ; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord département in northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe (rive ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

– 11 April 1975 at Montsoreau, near the river

Loire The Loire ( , , ; ; ; ; ) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône. It rises in the so ...

) was a prominent French playwright during the inter-war years and into the 1950s. He began as a

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

and produced an

autobiographical novel An autobiographical novel, also known as an autobiographical fiction, fictional autobiography, or autobiographical fiction novel, is a type of novel which uses autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fictive elements. The ...

about his

adolescence Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human Developmental biology, physical and psychological Human development (biology), development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age o ...

''le Joueur de triangle'' (The Triangle Player). After he met with Jacques Copeau, he devoted himself completely to dramatic works. In 1945 Obey became provisional general administrator of the

Comédie-Française The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...

. He was made full general administrator in 1946, and resigned in 1947 after just under a year's service. Obey's play ''Le Viol de Lucrèce'' was drawn on by

Ronald Duncan Ronald Frederick Henry Duncan (6 August 1914 – 3 June 1982) was an English writer, poet and playwright of German descent, now best known for his poem ''The Horse (poem), The Horse'' and for preparing the libretto for Benjamin Britten's opera ' ...

for the

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, o ...

's opera '' The Rape of Lucretia''. Obey served as general administrator of the

, in a provisional capacity from October 1945 until 6 April 1946, then with full powers until his resignation on 5 February 1947.

Bibliography

Novels

*''Le joueur de triangle'' (The Triangle Player)/ 1928

Theatre

* ''La Souriante Madame Beudet'' (The Smiling Madame Beudet)/ 1921: Nouveau théâtre, premiere, April 1921. 1921: Broadway November 28, 1921 - December 1921 * ''Noé'' (Noah)/ 1931: Broadway February 13, 1935 - March 1935 * ''Le Viol de Lucrèce'' (The Rape of Lucretia)/ 1931: Broadway December 20, 1932 - January 1933 * ''La Bataille de la Marne'' (The Battle of the Marne)/ 1932 * ''La Carcasse'' (The Carcass)/ 1926 * ''Noah'' / 1935 * ''Lazare'' (Lazarus)/ 1950 * ''L'Orestie''/ 1955 * ''Les trois coups de minuit''/ 1957: English translation as ''Frost at Midnight'' by Warren Tute * ''Revenu de l'étoile'' (Returned from the star)/ 1965

Reviews

References

1892 births 1975 deaths People from Douai Writers from Nord (French department) 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights Prix Renaudot winners Administrators of the Comédie-Française 20th-century French novelists French male novelists 20th-century French male writers {{Europe-theat-stub