Pierre Jean Baptiste Choudard Desforges

Pierre-Jean-Baptiste Choudard, known under the pen name of Desforges, (15 September 1746 – 13 August 1806) was a French actor, dramatist, librettist and man of letters.

Desforges in the role of Argante in Les Fourberies de Scapin
(engraving by Galard, ca. 1775)

Biography

Choudard was born in Paris, the natural son of Dr. Antoine Petit. He was educated at the Collège Mazarin[1][2] and the Collège de Beauvais[1] and, in accordance with his father's wishes, began the study of medicine. He then turned to painting and did casual work.

Dr. Petit's death left him dependent on his own resources, and after appearing on the stage of the Comédie-Italienne in Paris he joined a troupe of wandering actors, whom he served in the capacity of playwright. He was known under the pen name of Desforges, which also was the name he had on the stage. He married an actress; the two were welcomed in Saint Petersburg, where they spent three years (1779 to 1782). After his return to Paris he dedicated himself completely to literature.

Desforges was one of the first to avail himself of the new facilities afforded under the Revolution for divorce and remarriage. His memoirs are said to have been undertaken at the request of Madame Desforges.[1]

He died in Paris in 1806.

Works

Selected plays and librettos

Complete list

Novels
  • His novels, first published in four 12mo volumes in 1798, were published again in the same format in five volumes in 1819.[2]

Revolutionary writings
  • Citizen Desforges' play Alisbelle, ou les Crimes de la féodalité was in tune with the ideas of the French Revolution. He also published revolutionary poems and a Plan of general education.[6]

Memoirs
  • Le poëte, ou Mémoires d'un homme de lettres écrits par lui-même, 4 vols (1798).

Notes and references
  1. Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.)
  2. Gustave Vapereau, "Desforges (Pierre-Jean-Baptiste Choudard)", p. 616, on Google Books
  3. The date of the edition available on line may be different.
  4. A rather poor sequel of that play (according to Vapereau), Tom Jones et Fellamar, suite de Tom Jones à Londres, was published in 1788.
  5. Critique of the play by La Harpe, a contemporary.
  6. On line : Plan d'éducation générale, présenté au comité d'instruction publique, deux jours avant l'arrestation de Bazire, alors secrétaire du comité, et demeuré sous ses scellés jusqu'au mois messidor, an deuxième de la République, une et indivisible, 61 p.; Le ci-devant Toulon, aujourd'hui le Port de la Montagne, dithyrambe…; Hymne à la Raison; Religion républicaine all on Gallica
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