Henry Becque


Henry François Becque, was a French dramatist. He was born in Paris.

Life

In 1867, he wrote, in imitation of Lord Byron, the libretto for Victorin de Joncières's opera Sardanapale, 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 Odéon in 1886. Les Corbeaux established Becque's position as an innovator, and in 1885 he produced his most successful play, La Parisienne. Becque produced little during the last years of his life, but his disciples carried on the tradition he had created.
His other works include Querelles littéraires, and Souvenirs d'un auteur dramatique, consisting chiefly of reprinted articles in which he does not spare his opponents. His Théâtre complet includes L'Enfant prodigue ; Michel Pauper ; L'Enlèvement ; La Navette ; Les Honnêtes Femmes ; Les Corbeaux ; and La Parisienne.