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Article: Boileau-Despréaux, Nicolas (1636–1711)
- Article from:
- Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World
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BOILEAU-DESPR
É
AUX, NICOLAS (1636
–
1711)
BOILEAU-DESPR
É
AUX, NICOLAS
(1636
–
1711), French satirist, poet and poetic theoretician. Nicolas Boileau-Despr
é
aux was the fifteenth child of a Parisian government scribe and the younger brother of Gilles Boileau (1631
–
1669), also a poet (the family possession of Despr
é
aux was often added to Nicolas's name to distinguish him from Gilles). Destined for either the law or the church, he found his talent lay in writing verse mocking societal ills and the popular writers of the time. The publication of the
Satires
in 1666 established his literary reputation, and his acceptance in the circle of President ...