Victorien Sardou

One of the most successful dramatists of the Second Empire and the Belle Epoque, Sardou wrote copiously on many subjects in many styles, with expert craftsmanship and superficial brilliance. Like much popular, but secondary, nineteenth century drama, his writing depending on the exploitation of a successful formula. George Bernhard Shaw, who disliked everything he stood for, coined the word ‘Sardoodledom’ to describe his plays.

Photographed by J. Tourtin of Paris.