Alfred de Vigny

Alfred de Vigny was a French writer, poet, and playwright who lived from 1797 to 1863. He was born into a noble family and began his literary career as a poet, publishing his first collection of poems in 1822. He later turned to writing novels and plays, and "Cinq-Mars" is considered one of his most important works. De Vigny was part of a literary movement in France known as Romanticism, which emphasized individualism, emotion, and imagination. His writing often explored themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a changing world. He was also interested in history and politics, and "Cinq-Mars" is notable for its historical accuracy and detailed portrayal of courtly life in 17th-century France. Despite his literary success, de Vigny struggled with depression and disillusionment in his personal life. He was critical of the social and political institutions of his time, and his work often reflected his pessimism about the state of the world.