François-Thomas-Marie de Baculard d'Arnaud

François- Thomas -Marie de Baculard d' Arnaud ( born September 8, 1718 Paris, † November 8, 1805 ) was a French poet and dramatist.

Baculard d' Arnaud earned at an early age by his verses the favor of Voltaire. The Prussian king Frederick the Great appointed d' Arnaud to his literary correspondents and invited him later in Berlin. The Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences gave d' Arnaud the honorary title of The King's Ovid and described him as Voltaire's successor; what this avenged by sharp satirical poems on d' Arnaud.

After a short stay in Dresden d' Arnaud returned to Paris. He experienced the revolution and was imprisoned by order of the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror. Eight weeks after his 87th birthday Arnaud died on 8 November 1805 in Paris and found his final resting place in Père Lachaise Cemetery (division 10).

Reception

In his novels and tragedies d' Arnaud themed always the Eerie and Dark; a certain morbid mood can also be found in his poetry. From his plays were performed during his lifetime, only Le comte de Comminges.

Works (selection)

• Les amants malheureux, ou le comte de Comminges. Drame. Paris 1774th
• Euphémie, ou le triomphe de la religion. Drame, en trois actes en vers. Paris 1772.
• Mérinval. Drame. Le Jay in 1884.
• Poésies. 1751 ( 3 vols ).