LOUIS

See also:

• RACINE
• RACINE, JEAN (1639-1699)
• LOUIS RACINE (1692-1763)

RACINE (1692-1763)  , French poet, second son of Jean Racine, was born in Paris on the 6th of November 1692 . Early conscious of a vocation for poetry, he had been dissuaded from following his inclination by Boileau on the ground that the gift never existed in two successive generations . In 1722 his small means induced him to accept a position in the revenue in Provence, but a marriage with a certain Mademoiselle Presle secured his independence . In 1755 he lost his son in the disasters consequent on the Lisbon earthquake . This misfortune, commemorated by Ecouchard Lebrun, broke Racine's spirit . He sold his library, and gave himself up entirely to the practice of religion . In 1719 he had become a member of the Academic des Inscriptions, but had never offered himself as a member of the Academic Francaise, for fear, it is said, of incurring refusal on account of his Jansenist opinions . La Grace (1720) and Religion (1742), his most important work, are inspired by a sincere piety, and are written in verse of uniform clearness and excellence . His other works include epistles, odes, among whichthe Ode sus l'harmonie (1736) should be mentioned, Memoiros (1747) of Jean Racine, and a prose translation of Paradise Lost (1755)• Louis Racine died on the 29th of January 1763 . He was characterized by Voltaire as " le bon versificateur Racine, fils du grand poete Racine." His cEuvres completes were collected (6 vols.) in 1808 .