Guillaume Le Breton
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Le Breton was a French
dramatist of the sixteenth century. Little is known of his life, although the title of his play Adonis mentions he was from the Nièvre
region. Like his contemporary François d'Amboise
, he associated himself with the king's Procureur général, Gilles Bourdin, as well as other dramatists of the period, such as Odet de Turnèbe
and Pierre de Larivey
.
According to François d'Amboise, Le Breton wrote several tragedies — Tullie, Charité, Didon and Dorothée — which are today lost. His only extant theatrical work is a mythological play entitled Adonis, which was probably produced in 1569 before Charles IX
, then again eight years later at the Hôtel de Bourgogne
, and finally in 1579 at the Collège de Boncourt.
Le Breton was also responsible for a translation of the travels of Cortés
.
Modern editions:
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...
dramatist of the sixteenth century. Little is known of his life, although the title of his play Adonis mentions he was from the Nièvre
Nièvre
Nièvre is a department in the centre of France named after the Nièvre River.-History:Nièvre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
region. Like his contemporary François d'Amboise
François d'Amboise
François d'Amboise was a French jurist and writer. He was counseller to the Parlement of Brittany and advocate general to the Grand Conseil.- Biography :...
, he associated himself with the king's Procureur général, Gilles Bourdin, as well as other dramatists of the period, such as Odet de Turnèbe
Odet de Turnèbe
Odet de Turnèbe was a French dramatist.-Biography:Son of the Greek scholar Adrien Turnèbe, Odet de Turnèbe received a solid education and was known, from an early age, for his intelligence and wit...
and Pierre de Larivey
Pierre de Larivey
Pierre de Larivey was a French dramatist of Italian origin. He is credited with introducing the Italian "comedy of intrigue" into France.-Life:Little is known of Larivey's biography...
.
According to François d'Amboise, Le Breton wrote several tragedies — Tullie, Charité, Didon and Dorothée — which are today lost. His only extant theatrical work is a mythological play entitled Adonis, which was probably produced in 1569 before Charles IX
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
, then again eight years later at the Hôtel de Bourgogne
Hôtel de Bourgogne
Until the 16th century, the Hôtel de Bourgogne was the name of the Paris residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Today, the last vestige is the Tour Jean sans Peur, 20 rue Étienne Marcel, in the 2nd arrondissement.-Theatre:...
, and finally in 1579 at the Collège de Boncourt.
Le Breton was also responsible for a translation of the travels of Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
.
Works
Original editions:- Hernán Cortés, Voyages et conquestes du capitaine Ferdinand Courtois, es Indes occidentales, histoire traduite de la langue espagnole par Guillaume le Breton, Paris, A. L'Angelier, 1588, in-12, 416 ff.
- L'Adonis, tragédie de Guillaume Le Breton Nivernois, Paris, Abel L'Angelier, in Diverses tragedies de plusieurs autheurs de ce temps, 1597, in-12
Modern editions:
- Théâtre français de la Renaissance, la tragédie à l’époque d’Henri III, deuxième série, vol. 1 (1574-1579), Florence-Paris, Olschki-PUF, 1999. Edited by Mario Bensi.