Balzac Jean Louis Guezde

Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de, born at Angouleme, in 1594, of a noble French family, was patronised by Richelieu, who made him a councillor of state and historiographer royal, with a pension. His Letters are of high interest; and amongst his other works, Le Prince, Le Socrate Chretien, Les Entretiens, L'Aristippe, and Le Christ Victorieux are the most noteworthy. After leading a somewhat dissipated life at Court he retired into a monastery, gave himself up to good works, and died in 1654.