Malherbe, François de

Malherbe, François de (1555-1628), French poet and critic, who laid the foundations for classical French literature. He was born in Caen and educated at the universities of Basel and Heidelberg. He was court poet to Henry IV and Louis XIII. In both his poetry and prose, Malherbe reacted against the Romantic fervour and luxuriant style of the prevailing group of French poets known as the Pléiade by stressing simplicity and exactness of expression, harmony in style, and restraint in emotion. He promoted intellectual as opposed to emotional poetry. He was instrumental in making Parisian French the standard language for all France. Malherbe's own poetry foreshadowed the precision of verse later developed by the French classical poets and dramatists. His poetic works consist chiefly of lyrics, including odes to the French queen Marie de Médicis and to Louis XIII and a piece dedicated to a friend on the death of the latter's daughter. Among Malherbe's prose writings are translations of works by the Roman philosopher Seneca and the Roman historian Livy.