MALHERBE, FRANÇOIS DE


Meaning of MALHERBE, FRANÇOIS DE in English

born 1555, in or near Caen, France

died Oct. 16, 1628, Paris

French poet and theoretician.

He converted to Roman Catholicism after receiving a Protestant education. In 1577 he became secretary to the governor of Provence, Henri d'Angoulême. His ode to the new queen, Marie de Médicis , made his name widely known, and he became court poet in 1605. His 200-odd surviving letters provide a picture of court life, and his commentary on the poetry of Philippe Desportes (1546–1606) reveal his principles of poetry: that it must demonstrate verbal harmony, propriety, and intelligibility.

Britannica English dictionary.      Английский словарь Британика.