Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon

Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, born on February 13, 1707, in Paris, was a distinguished French novelist and chansonnier, known for his literary contributions that often challenged societal norms. As the son of the renowned tragedian Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, he was educated at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand, where he began to hone his craft.

His early works included light plays for the Italian Theatre in Paris and a short tale titled Le Sylphe, published in 1730. From 1729 to 1739, he was an active participant in the artistic gatherings known as 'Le Caveau,' alongside notable contemporaries such as Alexis Piron and Charles Collé. His novel Tanzaï et Néadarné, released in 1734, sparked controversy due to its thinly veiled critiques of the Papal bull Unigenitus and prominent figures like Cardinal de Rohan, leading to a brief imprisonment at Vincennes.

Crébillon's literary journey continued with the publication of Les Égarements du cœur et de l'esprit between 1736 and 1738, a work he never fully completed. His 1742 release, Le Sopha, conte moral, an erotic political satire, forced him into temporary exile from Paris. During this tumultuous period, he entered a romantic relationship with Lady Henrietta Maria Stafford, marrying her in 1748. They welcomed a son in 1746, who tragically passed away in 1750, and despite financial struggles, they remained together until her death in 1755.

In the years that followed, Crébillon published several notable works, including La Nuit et le moment in 1745 and Les Heureux Orphelins in 1754. After inheriting nothing from his late wife, he was compelled to sell his extensive library in 1757. However, he found stability as a royal censor in 1759, a role reminiscent of his father's legacy. His final novels, Lettres de la duchesse de *** au duc de *** and Lettres athéniennes, were published in 1768 and 1772, marking the end of a prolific and often tumultuous literary career.