Jean-Nicolas Bouilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean-Nicolas Bouilly
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| Born | 24 January 1763 Joué-lès-Tours
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| Died | 14 April 1842 (aged 79) Paris
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| Occupation | Playwright Librettist Writer |
Jean-Nicolas Bouilly (born 24 January 1763 – died 14 April 1842) was a French writer. He wrote plays, stories for operas, and books for children. He was also involved in politics during the French Revolution.
Bouilly is most famous for writing a story that became the basis for Beethoven's opera Fidelio. This story was about a woman who dressed up as a man. She did this to rescue her husband from prison. Many other operas also used his story.
Contents
Life
Bouilly was born near Tours, France. For a short time, he worked as a lawyer in Paris. This was before the French Revolution began.
When the Revolution started, he took on a role in the new government. He was in charge of a military group in Tours during a difficult time called the Reign of Terror.
In 1795, Bouilly joined the Committee of Public Instruction. This group helped organize schools for young children. Four years later, he left public life. He wanted to spend all his time writing. Bouilly passed away in Paris.
Works
Jean-Nicolas Bouilly wrote many different kinds of works. He was known for his plays and for his stories for children.
Theatre Plays
Bouilly wrote many plays for the stage. These plays often included music and songs. One of his most important plays was Léonore, ou L’amour conjugal. This play was first performed in 1798.
This play became very famous. It was the main story for Beethoven's opera Fidelio. Other composers like Pierre Gaveaux, Simon Mayr, and Ferdinando Paer also used this story for their own operas.
Some other plays he wrote include:
- Pierre le Grand (1790)
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau à ses derniers moments (1790)
- René Descartes (1796)
- Les Deux Journées (1800)
- L'Abbé de L'Épée (1799)
- Une Folie (1802)
- Fanchon la vielleuse (1803)
- Madame de Sévigné (1805)
Children's Stories
Bouilly also wrote many books and stories especially for young people. These books often taught moral lessons.
Some of his popular children's works include:
- Contes à ma fille (Stories for my Daughter) (1819)
- Conseils à ma fille (Advice for my Daughter) (1811)
- Les Jeunes Femmes (The Young Women) (1817)
- Contes offerts aux enfants de France (Stories for the Children of France) (1824–1825)
- Contes populaires (Popular Tales) (1830)
He also wrote his own life story in a book called Mes Récapitulations (My Recaps) in 1836.
See also
In Spanish: Jean-Nicolas Bouilly para niños
