Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, French general and author (b. 1741)
Pierre Ambroise François Choderlos de Laclos (French: [pjɛʁ ɑ̃bʁwaz fʁɑ̃swa ʃɔdɛʁlo də laklo]; 18 October 1741 – 5 September 1803) was a French novelist, official, Freemason and army general, best known for writing the epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) (1782).
A unique case in French literature, he was for a long time considered to be as scandalous a writer as the Marquis de Sade or Restif de La Bretonne. He was a military officer with no illusions about human relations, and an amateur writer; however, his initial plan was to "write a work which departed from the ordinary, which made a noise, and which would remain on earth after his death"; from this point of view he mostly attained his goals with the fame of his masterwork Les Liaisons dangereuses.
It is one of the masterpieces of novelistic literature of the 18th century, which explores the amorous intrigues of the aristocracy. It has inspired many critical and analytic commentaries, plays and films.
1803Sep, 5
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
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Events on 1803
- 18May
Treaty of Amiens
Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France. - 23Sep
Battle of Assaye
Second Anglo-Maratha War: Battle of Assaye between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. - 20Oct
Louisiana Purchase
The United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase.