La Ciguë, a two-act verse play produced at the Odéon in 1844, launched the career of the French dramatist Émile Augier. Born in Valence in 1820, he established himself as a prominent figure in nineteenth-century French literature, eventually occupying seat 1 of the Académie française from 1857 until his death in 1889.
The Rise of a Playwright
Educated at the Lycée Henri-IV, Augier received legal training before committing to literature. His early success with La Ciguë shifted his professional focus entirely to the theater. Throughout his career, he wrote both independently and in collaboration with authors such as Jules Sandeau, Eugène Marin Labiche, and Édouard Foussier. His body of work departed from the prevailing romantic ideals of the era, opting instead for realistic portrayals of bourgeois social dynamics.
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Augier used the stage to critique societal vices, including greed, lust for power, and ultramontanism. His 1855 play, Le Mariage d'Olympe, depicted a courtesan without the romanticization common in contemporary works like those of Dumas. In 1851, he provided the libretto for Sapho, the first opera by Charles Gounod. Among his most recognized collaborations with Jules Sandeau is Le Gendre de Monsieur Poirier, often cited as a pinnacle of his artistic achievement, alongside works like Les Effrontés and Le Fils de Giboyer.
Public Office and Later Years
Beyond his literary output, Augier engaged in civic and political life as a municipal councillor of Croissy-sur-Seine and a Second Empire senator. His commitment to public service complemented his status in the Académie française. In 1879, he produced his final comedy, Les Fourchambault. Following this production, he ceased writing entirely, citing a fear that any subsequent work might fall below his established standards. He died in 1889 at his residence, the Villa Augier in Croissy-sur-Seine.
Fast facts
- Born: 1820, Valence
- Died: 1889, Villa Augier
- Education: Lycée Henri-IV
- Académie française seat: 1 (1857-1889)
- Montyon Prize: 1849
- Commander of the Legion of Honour: 1868
- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour: 1881
- Occupations: writer, poet, politician, librarian, playwright, librettist
Questions readers ask
Why did Émile Augier stop writing in 1879?
He chose to retire after completing Les Fourchambault because he feared he would be unable to maintain the quality of his previous work.
What was his role in the Académie française?
He occupied seat 1 of the Académie française from 31 March 1857 until his death in 1889.
Achievements
- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour — 1881
- Montyon Prize — 1849
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 1868
- Notable work: La ciguë
