Les comédiens hors la loi

This work dives into the centuries‑long clash between theatre artists and religious authority, beginning with a surprisingly festive 1884 mass for Corneille that sparked a fresh debate. By tracing landmark events—from a 1763 ceremony that ended in clerical punishment to countless obscure statutes that once barred actors from sacraments—the author reveals how superstition, moral panic, and politics kept performers on the margins of sacred life.

Interwoven with vivid anecdotes, legal excerpts, and even a glimpse of similar prejudice in 19th‑century China, the narrative maps the gradual erosion of those old condemnations. Readers will come away with a clearer picture of why actors were once viewed as outlaws, how the battles were fought in pulpits and pamphlets, and what remnants of that bias linger today.