Louis Racine
Encyclopedia
Louis Racine was a French
poet
.
The second son of the dramatist Jean Racine
, he was born in Paris
. Interested in poetry from childhood, he had been dissuaded from trying to make it his career by Boileau
on the grounds that the gift never existed in two successive generations. In 1722, Louis Racine's 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 Écouchard Lebrun
, broke Racine's spirit. He sold his library, and gave himself up to the practice of religion.
In 1719 he had become a member of the Académie des Inscriptions, but had never offered himself as a member of the Académie Française
, 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 which the Ode sur l'harmonie (1736) should be mentioned, Mémoires (1747) of Jean Racine, and a prose translation of Paradise Lost
(1755).
He was characterized by Voltaire
as "le bon versificateur Racine, fils du grand poète Racine." His Œuvres complètes were collected (6 vols.) in 1808.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
The second son of the dramatist Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
, he was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Interested in poetry from childhood, he had been dissuaded from trying to make it his career by Boileau
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux was a French poet and critic.-Biography:Boileau was born in the rue de Jérusalem, in Paris, France. He was brought up to the law, but devoted to letters, associating himself with La Fontaine, Racine, and Molière...
on the grounds that the gift never existed in two successive generations. In 1722, Louis Racine's small means induced him to accept a position in the revenue in Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, but a marriage with a certain Mademoiselle Presle secured his independence. In 1755 he lost his son in the disasters consequent on the Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
earthquake. This misfortune, commemorated by Écouchard Lebrun
Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun
Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun was a French lyric poet.He was born in Paris at the house of the prince de Conti, to whom his father was valet....
, broke Racine's spirit. He sold his library, and gave himself up to the practice of religion.
In 1719 he had become a member of the Académie des Inscriptions, but had never offered himself as a member of the Académie Française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, for fear, it is said, of incurring refusal on account of his Jansenist
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
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 which the Ode sur l'harmonie (1736) should be mentioned, Mémoires (1747) of Jean Racine, and a prose translation of Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
(1755).
He was characterized by Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
as "le bon versificateur Racine, fils du grand poète Racine." His Œuvres complètes were collected (6 vols.) in 1808.