Molière notable work The School for Husbands
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (French pronunciation: ​[ʒɑ̃ batist pɔklɛ̃], [pɔkəlɛ̃]; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (UK: , US: , French: [mɔljɛʁ]), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world literature. His extant works include comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and more. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today. His influence is such that the French language is often referred to as the "language of Molière".Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comedic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.Through the patronage of aristocrats including Philippe I, Duke of Orléans—the brother of Louis XIV—Molière procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, The Doctor in Love, Molière was granted the use of salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Later, he was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations, Molière found success among Parisians with plays such as The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands, and The School for Wives. This royal favour brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title Troupe du Roi ("The King's Troupe"). Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments.Despite the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticism from other circles. For Tartuffe's impiety, the Catholic Church in France denounced this study of religious hypocrisy, which was followed by a ban by the Parlement, while Don Juan was withdrawn and never restaged by Molière. His hard work in so many theatrical capacities took its toll on his health and, by 1667, he was forced to take a break from the stage. In 1673, during a production of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière, who suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, was seized by a coughing fit and a haemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan; he finished the performance but collapsed again and died a few hours later.List of major works
Le Médecin volant (1645)—The Flying Doctor
La Jalousie du barbouillé (1650)—The Jealousy of le Barbouillé
L'Étourdi ou les Contretemps (1655)—The Blunderer, or, the Counterplots
Le Dépit amoureux (16 December 1656)—The Love-Tiff
Le Docteur amoureux (1658), the first play performed by Molière's troupe for Louis XIV (now lost)—The Doctor in Love
Les Précieuses ridicules (18 November 1659)—The Affected Young Ladies
Sganarelle ou Le Cocu imaginaire (28 May 1660)—Sganarelle, or the Imaginary Cuckold
Dom Garcie de Navarre ou Le Prince jaloux (4 February 1661)—Don Garcia of Navarre or the Jealous Prince
L'École des maris (24 June 1661)—The School for Husbands
Les Fâcheux (17 August 1661)—The Bores (also translated The Mad)
L'École des femmes (26 December 1662; adapted into The Amorous Flea, 1964)—The School for Wives
La Jalousie du Gros-René (15 April 1663; now lost)—The Jealousy of Gros-René
La Critique de l'école des femmes (1 June 1663)—Critique of the School for Wives
L'Impromptu de Versailles (14 October 1663)—The Versailles Impromptu
Le Mariage forcé (29 January 1664)—The Forced Marriage
Gros-René, petit enfant  (27 April 1664; now lost)—Gros-René, Small Child
La Princesse d'Élide (8 May 1664)—The Princess of Elid
Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur (12 May 1664)—Tartuffe, or, the Impostor
Dom Juan ou Le Festin de pierre (15 February 1665)—Don Juan, or, The Stone Banquet (subtitle also translated The Stone Guest, The Feast with the Statue, &c.)
L'Amour médecin (15 September 1665)—Love Is the Doctor
Le Misanthrope ou L'Atrabilaire amoureux (4 June 1666)—The Misanthrope, or, the Cantankerous Lover
Le Médecin malgré lui (6 August 1666)—The Doctor in Spite of Himself
Mélicerte (2 December 1666)
Pastorale comique (5 January 1667)—Comic Pastoral
Le Sicilien ou L'Amour peintre (14 February 1667)—The Sicilian, or Love the Painter
Amphitryon (13 January 1668)
George Dandin ou Le Mari confondu (18 July 1668)—George Dandin, or the Abashed Husband
L'Avare ou L'École du mensonge (9 September 1668)—The Miser, or, the School for Lies
Monsieur de Pourceaugnac (6 October 1669)
Les Amants magnifiques (4 February 1670)—The Magnificent Lovers
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (14 October 1670)—The Bourgeois Gentleman
Psyché (17 January 1671)—Psyche
Les Fourberies de Scapin (24 May 1671)—The Impostures of Scapin
La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas (2 December 1671)—The Countess of Escarbagnas
Les Femmes savantes (11 March 1672)—The Learned Ladies
Le Malade imaginaire (10 February 1673)—The Imaginary Invalid (or The Hypochondriac)
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