# Alain-René Lesage

> French writer (1668-1747)

**Wikidata**: [Q267962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q267962)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain-René_Lesage)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alain-rene-lesage

## Summary

Alain-René Lesage was born May 6, 1668, in Sarzeau.[1][2] He held citizenship in France.[3]

## Summary
Alain-René Lesage (1668–1747) was a French writer, novelist, playwright, translator, performing artist, and lawyer. He is best known for his contributions to the picaresque novel genre, most notably through the 1715 novel *Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane*, as well as the 1707 novel *The Devil upon Two Sticks* and the comedy *Turcaret*.

## Biography
- **Born:** May 6, 1668
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** [Data not available in source]
- **Known for:** Writing picaresque novels and comedies; translating written text; practicing law.
- **Employer(s):** [Data not available in source]
- **Field(s):** Literature, Law, Performing Arts

## Contributions
- Authored *Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane* in 1715, a defining work of the picaresque novel genre.
- Published *The Devil upon Two Sticks* in 1707.
- Wrote the comedy *Turcaret*.
- Worked as a translator, converting written text from one language to another.
- Created plays associated with the Théâtre de la foire in Paris.

## FAQs
**What are Alain-René Lesage's most famous literary works?**
Lesage is renowned for the picaresque novel *Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane* (1715), the novel *The Devil upon Two Sticks* (1707), and the comedy *Turcaret*.

**What professions did Alain-René Lesage practice?**
He held multiple occupations throughout his life, serving as a writer, novelist, playwright, translator, performing artist, and lawyer.

**When did Alain-René Lesage live?**
He was born on May 6, 1668, and died on November 17, 1747.

**What genre of literature is Lesage associated with?**
He is closely associated with the picaresque novel, a genre typically involving a lower-class young protagonist navigating a journey, exemplified by *Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane*.

**Where was Alain-René Lesage from?**
He was a French national, hailing from France, a country located primarily in Western Europe.

## Why They Matter
Alain-René Lesage holds a significant place in French literature as a contributor to the picaresque tradition, bridging the gap between Spanish picaresque origins and French literary culture. His work in the theatre, particularly at the Théâtre de la foire, contributed to the popular entertainment landscape of Paris. His multifaceted career as both a legal professional and a man of letters illustrates the interdisciplinary nature of intellectual careers in the 18th century.

## Notable For
- Author of *Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane* (1715).
- Author of *The Devil upon Two Sticks* (1707).
- Playwright of the comedy *Turcaret*.
- Contributions to the picaresque novel genre.
- Association with the Théâtre de la foire.
- Career spanning law, translation, and performance.

## Body

### Nationality and Context
Alain-René Lesage was a citizen of France, a country located primarily in Western Europe that extends its presence to other continents through overseas territories. France operates as a semi-presidential republic known for its significant global cultural, political, and economic influence, serving as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union. The nation possesses a rich history, with origins tracing back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, and maintains a high standard of living with a "Very High" Human Development Index (0.903 in 2021).

### Occupations and Professional Classifications
Lesage's career was characterized by a diverse range of occupations.

**Lawyer**
He was a legal professional, classified as an academic degree and an occupation group according to ISCO-08 (code 2611). As a subclass of a jurist, his field of occupation encompassed law, the practice of law, and legal engineering. The profession is distinct from an "avocado" based on French linguistic criteria and is symbolized by the unicode character ⚖️. Traditionally, this profession is associated with wearing a wig and recognizes patron saints such as Catherine of Alexandria, Ivo of Kermartin, and Genesius of Rome.

**Writer and Novelist**
Lesage was a writer who used written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works. Specifically, he was a novelist, a writer of novels. This role places him within the broad category of humans, the unique extant species of the genus *Homo*.

**Playwright and Performing Artist**
He was a playwright who wrote plays and a performing artist who participated in the performing arts in front of an audience. This category includes actors, comedians, dancers, magicians, circus artists, musicians, and singers.

**Translator**
He also worked as a translator, a person who translates written text from one language to another.

### Literary Works and Genres
Lesage's contributions to literature are marked by specific works and genres.

**Picaresque Novel**
He authored *Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane* in 1715. This work is a prime example of the picaresque novel, a type of literature that usually involves a lower-class young protagonist who is on their own and often making a journey.

**Comedy and Other Works**
He wrote the comedy *Turcaret*. Additionally, he published *The Devil upon Two Sticks* in 1707. His theatrical works are associated with the Théâtre de la foire, a former theatre located in Paris, France.

### Life Dates and Aliases
Alain-René Lesage was born on May 6, 1668, and died on November 17, 1747. Throughout records and history, he has been known by various aliases, including Alain René Lesage, Alain-Rene Lesage, Alain Rene Lesage, and Alain René Le Sage.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. LIBRIS. 2012
4. datos.bne.es
5. The Fine Art Archive
6. Library of the World's Best Literature
7. [Source](https://www.landrucimetieres.fr/spip/spip.php?rubrique188)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. CiNii Research
10. IMDb
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. Babelio
13. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia
16. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
17. GeneaStar
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index10.html)
20. CONOR.SI
21. Autoritats UB
22. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
23. Enciclopedia Treccani
24. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
25. HMML Authority File
26. Catalogo of the National Library of India