Contents
😉 Greetings to regular and new readers! In the article “Beaumarchais: biography, interesting facts” – about the life of the French playwright and publicist. Years of life 1732-1799.
Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
The famous watchmaker Karon, who lives in the capital of France, had a son Augustin. His father gave him the secrets of the craft. He was a good teacher and his son was a diligent student.
Over time, Augustin became known as an inventive and skillful craftsman. He was soon appointed watchmaker at the palace of King Louis XV.
Portrait of Pierre Augustin de Beaumarchais
The young man, who possessed many talents, including the gift of an orator and the ear of a musician, found himself at court in the circle of noble persons. However, he was not taken aback and in a short time learned the secular rules of the game.
He married a wealthy widow, then acquired the title of nobleman. Since then, his name has sounded like Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais.
At the court of the king he was called an upstart and an adventurer. Some considered him to be quite an extraordinary person. He said that all these features are present in his nature. Pierre Augustin wanted to become a writer, and he also had a talent for satirist. And observation of various types gave a lot of impressions.
He expounded them in “Memoirs”. In grotesque form, he described many members of parliament and various forms of fraud. The book brought the author popularity among the people and a lot of trouble. The outraged deputies filed a lawsuit against the author.
The writer could not escape the trial, and the verdict could deprive him of some of his rights. The king, who sympathized with Augustin, but demanded in response to “turn over” one “delicate” matter, took up the decision to resolve this issue.
History of one manuscript
Thévenot de Morand, a Frenchman living in London and an experienced blackmailer, threatened to publish Memoirs of a Public Woman. The manuscript contained many details from the “merry life” of the king’s favorite, the famous Madame Dubarry.
The publication of this book would be the cause of great trouble. Agents were dispatched to the British capital to capture the blackmailer and bring him to Paris by ship. But Morand instantly understood why the strangers were trying to get in touch with him. He invited them to his home, where they began to play dice.
The owner beat the guests and took all the money that was issued for this operation. Morand ran to the window and began calling loudly for help. He shouted that the agents of the “Versailles despot” wanted to kill him.
A crowd of people immediately ran over. The Musketeers were seized and thrown into the Thames. All the newspapers in London reported the incident the next morning. Morand escaped capture.
A brilliant compromise
The manuscript “Memoirs of a Public Woman” was already in the printing house and in a few days the book could be published. Ludovic told his watchmaker about this situation.
Pierre Augustin arrived in London and came to Morand, where he said: “I know from my own experience that the Memoirs sometimes bring a lot of trouble to the author, and sometimes some profit. You can get good profits for Memoirs. Tell me, how much are you willing to give the manuscript for?
Morand began to charge the price: “I incurred significant expenses …”. “Name the price!”
They had been bidding for a long time, but still agreed that Morand would be paid 32 thousand livres. In addition, the French government will pay a pension of 4 livres a year for life.
The agreement also included the following clause: in the event of Morand’s death, his wife will receive half of his pension. On this and agreed. Beaumarchais went to Paris and brought the money, and Morand gave the manuscripts, which were immediately burned in the oven.
Beaumarchais even recruited Morand to spy on emigrants from France, and happily returned to the palace. However, sad news awaited him. On May 9, 1774, King Louis XV of France departed to another world, and Dubarry was immediately deprived of her influence.
“Memoirs” were of no interest to anyone. Beaumarchais was shocked and even wrote to Morand: “You received 100 thousand francs, and I, having traveled 780 miles in a month and a half and spent five hundred guineas, am not sure that I will receive them. But your pamphlet would lose its meaning in five or six days! ”.
It is worth noting that Morand published “Memoirs”, but they did not receive a loud response.
Agent Louis XVI
Beaumarchais soon became an agent of Louis XVI and carried out many of his secret assignments. There were many more different adventures in his life. He visited many countries and in prison, was exiled. Several attempts were made on him, there were many novels in his life.
He sent firearms and thousands of ammunition to America for the colonists. But Beaumarchais received his fame as the author of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. The author put his character traits into the image of the hero. Pierre Augustin de Beaumarchais died on May 18, 1799. One of the boulevards in Paris was named after the playwright.
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