A.-V. (Antoine-Vincent) Arnault

Born in Paris on January 1, 1766, Antoine-Vincent Arnault became known as a French dramatist, poet, and man of letters. His early tragedies, especially Marius à Minturnes in 1791 and Lucrèce soon after, quickly established his name on the French stage.

Arnault’s life was closely tied to the political upheavals of his time. He supported the Revolutionary cause, later became associated with Napoleon, and also held public roles alongside his literary work. He was elected to the Académie française twice, a sign of the lasting respect he earned in French literary circles.

Beyond the theater, he wrote fables, poems, and memoirs, including Souvenirs d'un sexagénaire, which helped preserve his view of an era marked by dramatic change. Today he is remembered not only for his plays but also for the way his writing captures the ambitions, conflicts, and personality of post-Revolutionary France.