# Moliere

## Biography

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known to the world as Moliere, was born in Paris on January 15, 1622. Though he received a solid education at the Collège de Clermont and earned a law degree, he ultimately chose to defy his family's expectations for a conventional career. In 1643, he abandoned his given name and co-founded the Illustre Théâtre, a move that marked the beginning of his passionate life in the theatrical world. After the company's initial struggles, Moliere spent thirteen years touring the French provinces, where he honed his skills as an actor, director, and playwright. This period was crucial for developing his unique brand of comedy, which blended commedia dell'arte with incisive social commentary. His troupe's return to Paris in 1658 brought royal patronage from Louis XIV, elevating his standing. Moliere quickly became the era's preeminent comedic writer, crafting enduring plays like "Tartuffe" and "The Misanthrope" that satirized societal hypocrisy and human foibles. He continued to act in his own plays, even performing on the day he died, February 17, 1673. Moliere's profound impact on French literature and theatre cemented his legacy as one of the greatest comedic dramatists of all time.

## Books

- [The Imaginary Invalid](https://samolit.com/books/96682)
- [Tartuffe; Or, The Hypocrite](https://samolit.com/books/96423)
- [The Middle-Class Gentleman](https://samolit.com/books/96126)