Anouilh

Jean Anouilh (1910–1987) was a French dramatist and screenwriter who became one of the leading figures of mid-20th-century French theatre. Born in Bordeaux, he published and staged widely from the 1930s onward and rose to prominence during World War II and the postwar years.

Anouilh wrote in a range of forms, from tragedy to comedy, often reworking myths and historical subjects in a contemporary idiom. His best-known work, Antigone (1944), reimagines Sophocles’ tragedy in the climate of occupied France and uses the clash between personal conscience and public authority to address moral questions. Becket ou l’Honneur de Dieu (Becket) (1959) dramatizes the relationship between Thomas Becket and Henry II, examining power, loyalty, and integrity. Other plays blend wit with gravitas, illustrating his belief that serious themes could be presented in accessible, modern language.

Style and legacy: Anouilh favored precise, lucid dialogue, controlled pacing, and a formal stagecraft that could shift from austere tragedy to sparkling comedy. His work helped redefine modern tragedy for the French stage and influenced later generations of playwrights and directors. His plays have remained widely performed in France and internationally and have been adapted for film and television.