
Madeleine-Angélique de Gomez (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth ...
Poisson;
pseudonym
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
M.P.V.D.G.; 22 November 1684 – 28 December 1770) was a
French author and playwright.
Biography
Madeleine-Angelique was born in Paris on 22 November 1684 to the actor
Paul Poisson.
Madeleine-Angélique married a Spanish nobleman, Don Gabriel de Gomez, thinking he was rich. When she discovered her husband was burdened with debt, she turned to writing as a hope to escape poverty. Her first a tragedy, ''Habis'', was released in 1714 to much critical appeal, being played at the
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatre
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real ...
with a revival in 1732.
Between 1722 and 1772, Gomez published eight editions of ''Les Journées amusantes'', with the work being translated into English by
Eliza Haywood
Eliza Haywood (c. 1693 – 25 February 1756), born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. An increase in interest and recognition of Haywood's literary works began in the 1980s. Described as "prolific even by the standar ...
.
While most of her work was published under the name Madame de Gomez (M de Gomez), some of her works have been published under the pseudonym M.P.V.D.G.
She died in
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the centre of Paris.
Inhabitants are called ''Saint-Germanois'' or ''Saint- ...
on 28 December 1770 at the age of 86.
Published works
Plays
*''Habis, tragédie'' (1714)
*''Cléarque, tyran d'Héraclée, tragédie'' (1733 - English translation: Cléarchus, Tyrant of Heraclea, a tragedy)
*''Marsidie reine des Cimbres, tragédie '' (1735 - English translation: Marsidie, Queen of the Cimbri)
*''Semiramis, tragédie'' (1737 - English translation: Semiramis, tragedy)
Novels
*''Anecdotes persanes, dédiées au roy'' (1727 - English translation: Persian Anecdotes, dedicated to the king)
*''Anecdotes, ou Histoire secrette de la maison ottomane'' (1722 - English translation: Anecdotes, or Secret History of the Ottoman House)
*''Crémentine, reine de Sanga ; histoire indienne'' (1727 - English translation: Creatine, Queen of Sanga: Indian History)
*''Entretiens nocturnes de Mercure et de La Renommée, au jardin des Thuilleries'' (1714 - English translation: Nocturnal interviews of Mercury and La Renommée
[La Renommée is an alternate name for ]Pheme
In Greek mythology, Pheme ( ; Greek: , ''Phēmē''; Roman equivalent: Fama), also known as Ossa in Homeric sources, was the personification of fame and renown, her favour being notability, her wrath being scandalous rumours. She was a daughte ...
. There is a statue of her riding Pegasus in the Tuileries Garden. in the Tuileries Garden.)
*''Histoire de Jean de Calais, roi de Portugal, ou, La vertu recompensee'' (1731 - English translation: The History of Jean de Calais, King of Portugal, or Virtue Rewarded)
*''Histoire d'Osman premier du nom, XIXe empereur des Turcs, et de l'impératrice Aphendina Ashada'' (1734 - English translation: History of Osman, first of the name, XIXth emperor of the Turks, and of the empress Aphendina Ashada)
*''Histoire du comte d’Oxfort, de Miledy d’Herby, d’Eustache de Saint-Pierre et de Beatrix de Guines au siège de la ville de Calais, sous le règne de Philippe de Valois, roi de France & de Navarré, en 1346 & 1347''(1765 - English translation: History of the Count of Oxford, of Miledy of Herby, of Eustace of St. Peter and of Beatrix of Guines at the siege of the city of Calais, under the reign of Philip of Valois, King of France and of Navarre, in 1346 and 1347)
*''Histoire secrette de la conqueste de Grenade'' (1723 - English translation: The secret history of the conquest of Granada)
*''Histoires du comte d'Oxfort, de Miledy d'Herby, d'Eustache de S. Pierre, et de Beatrix de Guine'' (1738 - English translation:Stories of the Earl of Oxford, of Milady of Herby, of Eustace of St. Peter, and of Beatrix of Guinea)
*''La jeune Alcidiane'' (1733 - English translation: The Young Alcidiane)
*''Les journées amusantes, dédiées au roi'' (1722 - English translation: ''La Belle Assemblée'' published 1754)
Collections and editions
*''Œuvres mêlées de Madame de Gomez:contenant ses tragedies & differens ouvrages en vers et en prose'' (1724 - English translation: Collected Works of Madame de Gomez: Containing her Tragedies and Various Works in Verse and Prose)
*''Cent nouvelles nouvelles'' (published in multiple parts between 1732-1739 - English translation:The Hundred News)
Notes
References
Further reading
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomez, Madeline-Angelique de
1684 births
1770 deaths
18th-century French women writers
French fiction writers
18th-century French writers
French women short story writers
French short story writers
French women dramatists and playwrights
18th-century French dramatists and playwrights
18th-century pseudonymous writers