Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, often known as Crébillon fils to distinguish him from his famous tragedian father, was a prominent French novelist of the eighteenth century. Born in Paris, he received a prestigious Jesuit education at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. He began his literary career composing light theatrical works and short tales, while also participating in "Le Caveau," a lively dining society of Parisian artists and intellectuals.
Crébillon's writing was characterized by its sharp wit, psychological insight, and libertine themes, which frequently courted controversy. His 1734 work, Tanzaï et Néadarné, contained satirical attacks on religious and political figures, resulting in a brief imprisonment. He faced trouble again with the publication of Le Sopha, conte moral in 1742, an erotic political satire that led to his temporary exile from Paris. Despite these setbacks, he produced highly regarded works such as the unfinished novel Les Égarements du cœur et de l'esprit and the dialogue La Nuit et le moment.
In his personal life, Crébillon married Lady Henrietta Maria Stafford in 1748 after a years-long romance. Despite facing severe financial difficulties, particularly after her death in 1755, he continued to write, publishing works like Les Heureux Orphelins. To secure a stable income, he eventually sold his extensive library and took a position as a royal censor in 1759, a role his father had also held. He published his final novels in the late 1760s and early 1770s before his death in 1777.
