1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Tristan l'Hermite, François

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19470041911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 27 — Tristan l'Hermite, François

TRISTAN L’HERMITE, FRANCOIS (1601–1655), French dramatist, was born at the chateau de Soliers in the Haute Marche about 1601. His adventures began early, for he killed his enemy in a duel at the age of thirteen, and was obliged to flee to England. The story of his childhood arid youth he embroiders in a burlesque novel, the Page disgracié. He was in succession poet to Gaston d’Orleans, to the duchesse de Chaulnes and the duke of Guise. He died on the 7th of September 1655. His first tragedy, Mariamne (1636), was also his best. It was followed by Penthée (1637), La Mori de Sénèque (1644), La Mort de Crispe (1645) and the Parasite (1653). He was also the author of some admirable lyrics. Three of his best plays are printed in the Théâtre français of 1737.