COLLIN D'HARLEVILLE

collin d'harleville, jean francois (1755-1806), french dramatist, was born at mevoisins, near maintenon (eure-et-loire), on the 30th of may 1755. his first dramatic success was _l'inconstant_, a comedy accepted by the comedie francaise in 1780, but not produced there until six years later, though it was played elsewhere in 1784. this was followed by _l'optimiste, ou l'homme toujours content_ (1788), and _chateaux en espagne_ (1789). his best play, _le vieux celibataire_, appeared in 1793. among his other plays are--the one-act comedy _monsieur de crac dans son petit castel_ (1791), _les artistes_ (1796), _les moeurs du jour_ (1800) and _malice pour malice_ (1803). collin was one of the original members of the institute of france, and died in paris on the 24th of february 1806. the 1822 edition of his _theatre et poesies fugitives_ contains a notice by his friend the dramatist andrieux. his _theatre_ was also edited by l. moland in 1876; and by edouard thierry in 1882.