Review of Neil Jennings and Margaret Jones: 'A Biography of Samuel Chappuzeau, a Seventeenth-Century French Huguenot Playwright, Scholar, Traveller, and Preacher. An Encyclopedic Life'. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 2012. 253 p. + Appendix, Bibliography, Index.

Abstract

The critical biography provides a detailed examination of the life of Samuel Chappuzeau, best known today for his 'Théâtre français', published in 1674. The lengthy title of the study announces the meticulous treatment of the subject by the two authors, Neil Jennings and Margaret Jones. They describe Chappuzeau as a figure who has been largely ignored in modern times, particularly in France, and express the hope that their book will "re-establish and enhance" his reputation. The 'Authors' Note' stipulates that the biography is addressed not only to academics, but to Chappuzeau's numerous descendants as well. Indeed, both authors claim "Samuel" (as they choose to call him throughout the study) as an ancestor and are currently working on a detailed genealogy of the seventeenth-century figure. The biography's 'Foreword' is written by Christopher Gossip, Emeritus Professor of the University of New England (Australia) and author of the first critical edition of Chappuzeau's 'Le Théâtre français' (Tübingen: Narr Verlag, 2009).