The Countess of Escarbagnas

The Countess of Escarbagnas. (La Comtesse D'escarbagnas.) By Moli�re Translated into English Prose. With short introductions and explanatory notes.By Charles Heron Wall Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Moliere, baptised January 15, 1622 - February 17, 1673) was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Moli�re's best-known works are Le Misanthrope (The Misanthrope), L'�cole des Femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite), L'Avare (The Miser), Le Malade Imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman). Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Coll�ge de Clermont (now Lyc�e Louis-le-Grand), Moli�re was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy. Through the patronage of a few aristocrats, including Philippe I, Duke of Orl�ans - the brother of Louis XIV - Moli�re procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, Le Docteur Amoureux (The Doctor in Love), Moli�re was granted the use of salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Later, Moli�re was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations he found success among the Parisians with plays such as Les Pr�cieuses ridicules (The Affected Ladies), L'�cole des Maris (The School for Husbands) and L'�cole des Femmes (The School for Wives). This royal favor brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title "Troupe du Roi" (The King's Troupe). Moli�re continued as the official author of court entertainments.