HENRY

See also:

• FRANCOIS (1558-1614)

FRANCOIS

See also:

• HENRY FRANCOIS BECQUE (1837-1899)

BECQUE (1837-1899)  , French dramatist, was born on the 9th of April 1837 in Paris . He wrote the book of an opera Sardanapale in imitation of Lord Byron for the music of M . Victorin Joncieres in 1867, but his first important work, Michel Pauper, appeared in 1870 . The importance of this sombre drama was first realized when it was revived at the Odeon in 1886 . Les Corbeaux (1882) established Becque's position as an innovator, and in 1885 he produced his most successfulplay, La Parisienne . Becque produced little during the last years of his life, but his disciples carried on the tradition he had created . He died in May 1899 . See his Querelles litteraires (1890), and Souvenirs d'un auteur dramatique (1895), consisting chiefly of reprinted articles in which he does not spare his opponents . His Theatre complet (3 vols., 1899) includes L'Enfant prodigue (Vaudeville Theatre, 6th of Nov . 1868) ; Michel Pauper (Theatre de la Porte-Saint-Martin, 17th of June 187o) ; L'Enlevement (Vaudeville, 18th of Nov . 1871) ; La Navette (Gymnase, 15th of Nov . 1878) ; Les Honnetes Femmes (Gymnase, 1st of Jan .

188o) ; Les Corbeaux (Comedic Frangaise, 14th of

Sept . 1882) ; La Parisienne (Theatre de la Renaissance, 7th of Feb . 1885) .