'Tristan l'Hermite' was the pseudonym of 'François l'Hermite' (c.
1601 –
September 7,
1655),
French dramatist, was born at the Château de Soliers in the Haute Marche.
His adventures began early, for he killed his enemy in a duel at the age of thirteen, and was obliged to flee to
England. The story of his childhood and youth he embroiders in a burlesque novel, the ''Page disgracie''. He was in succession poet to
Gaston d'Orléans, to the duchesse de Chaulnes and the
duke of Guise.
His first
tragedy, ''Mariamne'' (
1636), was also his best. It was followed by ''Penthée'' (
1637), ''La Mort de Seneque'' (
1644), ''La Mort de Crispe'' (
1645) and the ''Parasite'' (
1653). He was also the author of some admirable lyrics. Three of his best plays are printed in the ''Théâtre français'' of
1737.
He took his pseudonym from
Tristan l'Hermite, a shadowy figure of the late middle ages who was provost of the marshals of the King's household under
Louis XI of France.
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