A summary of "The Life of Monsieur de Moliere" by Mikhail Bulgakov

This book is a novelized biography of the great French playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière. The work was written in 1933. The author freely navigates time, blurring the boundaries of centuries, and directly engages in dialogue with historical figures, commenting on their actions from the perspective of an informed descendant. He declares to the midwife: "This baby will become more famous than your current king, Louis XIII."

Early years and the call of the stage

In 1622, the first child of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, the royal upholsterer, and Marie Cresset was born in Paris. The boy grew up in the bustle of the commercial district near the Pont Neuf. His mother died early. His grandfather, Ludovic Cresset, instilled in young Jean-Baptiste a love of the theater. They regularly attended the Hôtel de Bourgogne and the Théâtre des Marshes. His father, displeased with his son’s passion, sent him to the prestigious College of Clermont. The Jesuits trained the boy’s mind with strict Latin. He later attended lectures by the Epicurean philosopher Pierre Gassendi. The future writer Cyrano de Bergerac and the explorer Bernier studied alongside him.

Jean-Baptiste earned a law degree in Orléans. He traveled to the south of France to serve as the king’s valet to Louis XIII. His return to Paris changed everything. In 1643, Jean-Baptiste renounced his upholsterer’s job, took his share of the inheritance, and became an actor. He adopted the stage name Molière. The Béjart family — Madeleine, Joseph, and Geneviève — became his surrogate family. The red-haired Madeleine Béjart, an experienced actress, reciprocated the young Molière’s affections.

Collapse in Paris and provincial wanderings

Molière and the Béjarts create the Théâtre Brilliant. The venture is a complete disaster. Parisians ignore the gloomy hall near the Nesle Tower. Molière attempts a tragic role, but fails due to a lack of vocal talent. The troupe accumulates enormous debts. Molière ends up in debtor’s prison. He is saved by the surety of the paver Leonard Aubry. In the spring of 1646, the Théâtre Brilliant closes forever.

The troupe leaves Paris by carriage. Twelve years of nomadic life through the French provinces begin. They perform in barns and opulent chateaux, enduring poverty and the humiliation of government officials. Gradually, Molière discovers his genius as a comic actor, adopting the stage presence of the Italian Scaramouche. In tragedies, the audience boos him, and in farces, they shower him with applause. He begins to compose his own comedies. The play "The Madman" grosses enormously in Lyon. The troupe defeats its competitors and grows rich. A ten-year-old girl, Armande, appears in the wagon train. Madeleine calls her "little sister."

The Prince’s Patronage and the Theatre Wars

Traveling comedians end up at the Prince of Conti’s castle in Languedoc. The prince takes the troupe under his wing. The comedians receive generous pensions and luxurious costumes. A few years later, the prince converts to religion, calls comedy a sin, and dismisses the actors. Molière decides to conquer Paris. In the autumn of 1658, the troupe performs before the king’s brother, Philippe d’Orléans, and then performs at the Louvre for the twenty-year-old Louis XIV. Corneille’s tragedy "Nicomedes" frankly bores the audience. Molière saves the situation by following it with the farce "The Doctor in Love." The king laughs heartily. The troupe is given a hall in the Petit-Bourbon palace.

In the autumn of 1659, Molière staged the comedy "Les Jewells Ridiculouses." It mocked the pretentious manners and hypocrisy of aristocratic salons. A scandal erupted. The authorities briefly banned the play, but it subsequently earned record box office receipts. Molière made powerful enemies among the literary and artistic figures of the Hôtel de Bourgogne. Ratabon, the caretaker of the royal buildings, demolished the Petit Bourbon without warning. The king gifted the homeless troupe the dilapidated hall of the Palais Royal.

In 1662, Molière married the young Armande Béjart. Dirty rumors swirled throughout Paris that the bride was Molière’s own daughter. Family life descended into hell. Armande was flirtatious and cold, and the aging Molière was tormented by jealousy. The play "The School for Wives" sparked a new storm. Enemies accused the playwright of vulgarity and plagiarism. Molière responded on stage with "Criticism of ’The School for Wives" and "The Versailles Impromptu," cruelly parodying his rivals. A quarrel with playwright Jean Racine deprived Molière of the actress Thérèse-Marquise Duparc and the production of "Alexander the Great."

Forbidden Masterpieces and Hypochondria

In May 1664, Versailles hosted grand celebrations. Molière presented three acts of his new comedy, "Tartuffe." It exposed the hypocrite and scoundrel hiding behind religion. The outrage of the high clergy forced Louis to ban the play. The Archbishop of Paris threatened excommunication for anyone who read the text or attended the performance. In February 1665, Molière staged "Don Juan." The hero of the production was a charming and fearless atheist. The outrage of the religious zealots flared up again. After fifteen performances, the posters were taken down.

Molière falls into deep hypochondria. He is plagued by stomach pains and pulmonary hemorrhages. He clashes with the medical faculty, portraying the doctors in the play "Love the Healer" as charlatans and murderers. Fleeing persecution, Molière retreats to the village of Auteuil. His friends Boileau, La Fontaine, and Chapelle frequently visit him. In Auteuil, the master creates "Amphitryon," "Georges Dandin," and "The Miser." Only in 1669 does the monarch permit the performance of "Tartuffe." The comedy brings in unprecedented amounts of money for the theater.

The last days of the bronze comedian

Molière wrote "The Bourgeois Gentleman" with Turkish dances for royal celebrations, and then "Psyche," co-authored with the aging Corneille. The playwright’s health rapidly deteriorated. In February 1672, Madeleine Béjart died. Molière remained completely alone in his richly furnished apartment on the Rue de Richelieu. In early 1673, he worked on the comedy "The Imaginary Invalid," which cruelly satirizes human suspiciousness. On February 17, the anniversary of Madeleine’s death, Molière appeared on stage dressed as the ailing Argan. During the performance, he began coughing up blood.

The comedian is carried home. The young actor Baron and Armande fuss at the bedside. Not a single physician agrees to visit the dying man. The priests also refuse to come to confession. Molière dies, choking on his own blood. The archbishop forbids burying the sinner on consecrated ground. Armande throws herself at the king’s feet. Louis orders the body to be interred at night, without ceremony. A crowd with torches escorts the coffin to the cemetery of Saint-Joseph. Over time, the grave was lost. Today, only a bronze monument on a Parisian street serves as a memorial to the king’s comedian.