Académie Française

The Académie Française (French Academy) was established in 1634 and has existed (bar an interruption during the French Revolution) to the present day. It is one of five academies in the Institut de France and is based in Paris. The Académie was founded by the French First Minister Cardinal Richelieu (a patron of the arts and a lover of theatre) with the purpose of maintaining standards of literary taste and to become a custodian of the French language. It is run by 40 illustrious members known as "Immortals". This guide will explore the history and development of the Académie Française and its long-lasting association with the theatre.

Terminology

• Aristotelian Unities: A philosophy crafted by Aristotle which suggests that a well-made play has one main story, takes place in a compact amount of time, and has one setting.
• Theorist: An individual who develops an abstract idea or set of ideas about a particular subject.
• Verisimilitude: The appearance of being true or real.

Key Dates & Events

• 1634 - The Académie Française (French Academy) is established by Cardinal Richelieu.
• 1634 - Pierre Corneille is selected by Cardinal Richelieu to be one of the Les Cinq Auteurs.
• 1637 - Pierre Corneille writes the tragicomedy, Le Cid.
• 1641 - Cardinal Richelieu builds his own Italian-style theatre.
• 1642 - Cardinal Richelieu dies.
• 1659 - Les Précieuses Ridicules premieres at the Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon.
• 1672 - Jean Racine is elected to the Académie.
• 1677 - Phaedra is first produced at the theatre of the Hôtel de Bourgogne in Paris.
• 1694 - The first completed edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française was presented upon completion by the Académie to King Louis XIV.