Henri Auguste Barbier (29 April 1805 – 13 February 1882) was a French
dramatist
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between characters and is intended for theatrical performance rather than just
reading. Ben Jonson coined the term "playwri ...
and poet.
Barbier was born in Paris, France. He was inspired by the
July Revolution
The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...
and poured forth a series of eager, vigorous poems, denouncing the evils of the time. They are spoken of collectively as the ''Iambes'' (1831), though the designation is not strictly applicable to all. As the name suggests, they are modelled on the verse of André Chénier. They include ''La Curée'', ''La Popularité'', ''L'Idole'', ''Paris'', ''Dante'', ''Quatre-vingt-treize'' and ''Varsovie''. The rest of Barbier's poems are forgotten, and when, in 1869, he received the long delayed honour of admission to the
Académie française
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...
, Montalembert expressed the general sentiment with "Barbier? mais il est mort!," but actually he died at
Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionLéon de Wailly in the
libretto
A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...
Benvenuto Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini (, ; 3 November 150013 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the ''Cellini Salt Cellar'', the sculpture of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', and his autobiography ...
'', and his works include two series of poems on the political and social troubles of
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
and England, printed in later editions of ''Iambes et poèmes''.
Works
* ''La Curée (1830, dans la Revue de Paris''). Texte sur wikisource
* ''Les Mauvais Garçons'' (1830). With Alphonse Royer.
* ''Iambes et poèmes'' (1831) Texte sur Wikisource
* ''II Pianto : poème'' (1833) Texte en ligne /small>
* ''Salon de 1836. Suite d'articles publiés par le Journal de Paris'' (1836)
* ''Lazare : poème'' (1833)
* ''Satires et poèmes'' (1837)
* ''Nouvelles Satires : pot-de-vin et érostrate'' (1840)
* ''Chants civils et religieux'' (1841)
* ''Rimes héroïques'' (1843)
* ''Rimes légères : chansons et odelettes'' (1851)
* ''Satires et cahants'' (1853)
* ''Silves : poésies diverses'' (1864)
* ''Satires'' (1865) Texte sur Wikisource
* ''Trois passions'' (1867)
* ''Discours de réception'' (1870).
* ''Histoires de voyage : souvenirs et tableaux, 1830-1872'' (1880). Réédition : Slatkine, Genève, 1973.
* ''Contes du Soir'' (1879).
* ''Chez les poètes : études, traductions et imitations en vers'' (1882) Texte en ligne /small>
* ''Les Quatre Heures de la toilette des dames : poème érotique en quatre chants'' (1883)
* ''Œuvres posthumes'' (4 volumes, 1883-1889) Texte en ligne /small>
;Translations
*
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
: ''Jules César : tragédie'' (1848)
*
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge ( ; 21 October 177225 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets with his friend William Wordsworth ...
: ''La Chanson du vieux marin'' (1877)
;Libretto
* ''
Benvenuto Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini (, ; 3 November 150013 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the ''Cellini Salt Cellar'', the sculpture of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', and his autobiography ...
, opera in 2 acts, lyrics by Léon de Wailly and Auguste Barbier, music by
Hector Berlioz
Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...
'', Paris, premiered at the théâtre of the Académie royale de musique 3 September 1838. Texte en ligne /small>
;Popular Culture
His poem Le Gin is referenced in Season 2 of Les Témoins Texte en ligne /small>
The murderer writes graffiti near crime scenes based on these lines of the poem:
"Les mères mêmes, en rentrant pas à pas,
Laissent tomber les enfants de leurs bras,
Et les enfants, aux yeux des folles mères,
Vont se briser la tête sur les pierres."