The New Student's Reference Work/Boileau, Nicholas

Boileau (bwä'lō), Nicholas, a French poet and critic, was born at Paris in 1636, and after a thorough education took up writing as a profession. His first work was a satire, Adieu of a Poet to the City of Paris. He became a friend of Moliére, La Fontaine and Racine, and was pensioned by the king. His Art of Poetry is considered very fine. He did much as a critic to purify and refine the French language, and has had a great influence on French literature. He was made a member of the French Academy. He died at Paris in 1711.