Anouilh, Jean (-Marie-Lucien-Pierre)

(born June 23, 1910, Bordeaux, France—died Oct. 3, 1987, Lausanne, Switz.) French playwright. After studying law, he wrote his first play, (1932), followed by the successful (1937). He is best remembered for (1944), (1953), and (1959), in which he used techniques such as the play within the play, flashbacks and flash-forwards, and the exchange of roles. A skillful exponent of the well-made play, he rejected naturalism and realism in favour of a return to theatricalism.

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