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The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Alain René Lesage (1688–1747)
Le Sage, Alain René (lė-säzh’). A celebrated French novelist and dramatist; born at Sarzeau, near Vannes, May 8, 1668; died at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nov. 17, 1747. He abandoned law for literature, with scant success till 1707, when the comedy ‘Crispin his Master’s Rival’ was received with high public favor; as was ‘Turcaret’ the following year. His novels ‘The Devil on Two Sticks’ (1707) and ‘Gil Blas’ (1717), were suggested by Spanish originals; but he owes them nothing beyond suggestion. As author of ‘Gil Blas’ he is the parent and pattern of Fielding and Smollett. Of his other romances in the same general vein may be mentioned ‘The Bachelor of Salamanca’ and ‘The Life and Adventures of M. de Beauchène.’ (See Critical and Biographical Introduction).