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Charles CotinFrench writer, abbot.
Country:
 France |
Content:
French Writer and Abbé
Charles Cotin (1604-1682) was a French writer and abbé. He was known for his elaborate language, gallantry, and fondness for grandiloquence.
Literary Reputation
Cotin's literary reputation primarily stems from being a frequent target of Nicolas Boileau, who satirized the hapless abbé in his works. Boileau ridiculed Cotin for his literary pretensions, worldly ambitions, and obsequiousness towards powerful patrons.
Molière's Attack
The decisive blow to Cotin's social standing came from Molière's comedy "The Learned Ladies" (1672). The famous scene between Vadius and Trissotin depicts a real-life quarrel between Cotin (Trissotin in Molière's play) and Gilles Ménage over a sonnet honoring Madame de Nemours.
Works
Among Cotin's major works are:"La Jérusalem désolée" (a translation of Tasso's poem)
"Théocrite" (a translation of Theocritus' poems)
"Rondeaux" (a collection of poems)
"Poésies chrétiennes" (Christian poems)
"Oeuvres galantes en vers et en prose" (a collection of amorous poems and prose)
"Critique désintéressée sur les satires du temps" (a response to Boileau's satires)
Despite Boileau's attacks, Cotin remained unfazed. However, Molière's comedy irrevocably damaged his reputation in society, leaving Cotin as a cautionary tale for literary aspirants with inflated egos.
