Scudéry, Georges de (1601-67). French military man of legendary vanity who, in about 1630, left the army for the theatre. He wrote numerous plays, 16 of which were staged between 1631 and 1644 alone, notably La Comédie des comédiens (1634) and Arminius (1643). Shortly after Théophile de Viau's condemnation by the Church, Scudéry edited Théophile's Œuvres (1632) and in a preface courageously defended the poet against his enemies. On the other hand, he initiated the attack on Corneille's dramaturgy with Observations sur le Cid (1637). In subsequent texts he defended the Académie Française's position in the quarrel; he was later elected to its ranks. Many of his sister Madeleine's works, such as Artamèneou le Grand Cyrus, were published under Georges's name; he may have collaborated to some extent in their production. He wrote an epic poem, Alaric, ou Rome vaincue (1654). After his marriage in 1654 he lived in Normandy. His widow was a favourite correspondent of Bussy-Rabutin.
[Joan Dejean]
