French poet and dramatist.
From a Parisian cultured “bourgeoise” family (upper-middle class), he was successively doctorate in law, lawyer, notary clerk, soldier (dragoon for two years), but irresistibly attracted by writing, he achieved his first success in 1860 with his one-act play “le Parasite”, represented at the Odeon Theatre in Paris.
He married in 1862 the daughter of François Buloz, founder and director of the world-wide famous “Revue des Deux Mondes”, a monument of the “Romantic literature” era, which he soon became co-director.
He pursued a triumphal career with his comedies about social customs (comedies de moeurs). His first big hit is obtained at the “Theatre du Gymnase”, in 1868, with “le Monde où l’on s’amuse” (the World where you’re having fun), which will lead him as Director of the “Comédie Française” (where he has been previously admitted in 1863 with his play “Le Dernier quartier” – the Last district). His career culminated in 1881 with “le Monde où l’on s’ennuie” (the World where you are bored), one of the most strikingly successful pieces of the period which knew a prodigious long run (over 1000 performances at “la Comedie Française” in Paris, and great success in St Petersburg, London, etc..). The play ridiculed contemporary upper class society and was filled with transparent allusions to well-known people. This triumphal success earned him his election to the famous “Académie française” in 1882 (seat n°12). None of his two latest creations (“la Souris” in 1887, and “Cabotins” in 1894) achieved so great a success.
He died 19 April 1899.

Link to Wikipedia biography