Jean de La Bruyère

La Bruyère (1645-1696)

  Jean de La Bruyère was a French satirist. He is best known for The Characters of Theophrastus, Translated from the Greek, with the Characters and Mores of This Age. The book appeared in 1688 as an appendix to his translation of a work by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher of the 200's B.C. In each of the nine editions published during his lifetime, La Bruyère increased his own contribution so that the Characters stands as an original work. La Bruyére ridiculed the injustice and hypocrisy he saw in French life. He grouped his observations under 16 chapter titles, including "The City," "The Court," "Fashion," and "Personal Merit."

  Jean de La Bruyère was born in Paris. He spent much of his life tutoring the children of noble families. In 1693, he was admitted to the French Academy.