Mathurin Régnier

author

Mathurin Régnier

1573–1613

A sharp, lively satirist of early 17th-century France, he wrote with a plainspoken energy that set him apart from many of his contemporaries. His poems observe everyday characters and social pretenses with wit, realism, and a strikingly modern bite.

1 Audiobook

Œuvres complètes de Mathurin Regnier accompagnées d'une notice biographique et bibliographique, de variantes, de notes, d'un glossaire et d'un index

Œuvres complètes de Mathurin Regnier accompagnées d'une notice biographique et bibliographique, de variantes, de notes, d'un glossaire et d'un index

by Mathurin Régnier

About the author

Born in Chartres on December 21, 1573, Mathurin Régnier became one of the best-known satirical poets of his time. He was related to the poet Philippe Desportes, and sources agree that part of his early career unfolded under church patronage and in connection with Cardinal François de Joyeuse, including time spent in Italy.

Régnier is remembered above all for his verse satires, which critics have linked to classical models such as Horace and Juvenal while also praising their distinctly French voice. Britannica describes his writing as vigorous and colloquial, and notes the vivid realism with which he portrayed the people and manners of his age.

He died in Rouen on October 22, 1613. Though his life is not documented in every detail, his reputation has lasted because his work feels direct, observant, and unsparing in the best satirical tradition.