Figaro: The Life of Beaumarchais

John Rivers

Beaumarchais – Watchmaker, music teacher, politician, opportunist, publisher, secret agent for Louis XVI, yet fomenter of revolution in both France and America – and yet again imprisoned for being an enemy of the Revolution. . . Friend of Voltaire, libertarian, arms dealer, and dramatist whose famous Figaro trio of satirical plays reflects the dissolution of Medieval society and torturous emergence of a new democratic era. This biography by John Rivers was originally published in 1922. (Summary by Lynette Caulkins)

Genre(s): Biography & Autobiography

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface Lynette Caulkins
00:04:38
Play 01 Ch. I - In Which the Handsome Watchmaker Comes to Court Pamela Nagami
00:12:36
Play 02 Ch. II - Mme. Francquet and the First Marriage of Beaumarchais Zunzil
00:13:06
Play 03 Ch. III - The Duel Kerry Adams
00:22:55
Play 04 Ch. IV - Some Early Adventures of Beaumarchais William Bruce McFadden
00:15:39
Play 05 Ch. V - An Adventure in Spain Rita Boutros
00:40:10
Play 06 Ch. VI - In Old Madrid Rita Boutros
00:31:40
Play 07 Ch. VII - The Story of the Beautiful Creole Rita Boutros
00:44:43
Play 08 Ch. VIII - Beaumarchais in His Early Plays Rita Boutros
00:18:52
Play 09 Ch. IX - Mme. Lévêque and the Second Marriage of Beaumarchais Zunzil
00:09:54
Play 10 Ch. X - Beaumarchais at Law czandra
00:07:12
Play 11 Ch. XI - Beaumarchais, the Mad Duke, and the Demi-Mondaine czandra
00:29:10
Play 12 Ch. XII - Beaumarchais in Prison Tatiana Chichilla
00:10:17
Play 13 Ch. XIII - How "Louis XV Overthrew the Old Parlement and Fifteen Louis the New" Sarah Rothwell
00:37:50
Play 14 Ch. XIV - How "Louis XV Overthrew the Old Parlement and Fifteen Louis the New" Continued Sarah Rothwell
00:29:21
Play 15 Ch. XV - Concerning Mlle. Willermaula and the Third Marriage of Beaumarchais Zunzil
00:08:53
Play 16 Ch. XVI - On Secret Service Availle
00:15:58
Play 17 Ch. XVII - Beaumarchais and the Brigands of the Leichtenholtz Sarah Rothwell
00:16:35
Play 18 XVIII - A Mysterious Affair Sonia
James R. Hedrick
00:22:27
Play 19 XIX - "The Barber of Seville" James R. Hedrick
00:53:47
Play 20 XX - Beaumarchais and the Chevalier d'Éon Isaac Wachsman
00:21:38
Play 21 XXI - The Rehabilitation of Beaumarchais Isaac Wachsman
00:06:47
Play 22 XXII - Beaumarchais in Conflict with the Players Isaac Wachsman
00:14:15
Play 23 XXIII - Beaumarchais Closes His Account Isaac Wachsman
00:12:19
Play 24 XXIV - In Which Beaumarchais Discovers America mkirkpat
00:26:48
Play 25 XXV - Beaumarchais and Voltaire William Bruce McFadden
00:14:12
Play 26 XXVI - About "The Marriage of Figaro" Sarah Rothwell
00:21:00
Play 27 XXVII - "The Marriage of Figaro" - Part 1 James R. Hedrick
00:23:00
Play 28 XXVII - "The Marriage of Figaro" - Part 2 James R. Hedrick
00:44:28
Play 29 XXVIII - Beaumarchais and Mirabeau czandra
00:08:28
Play 30 XXIX - The Tribulations of a Knight-Errant Sarah Rothwell
00:22:17
Play 31 XXX - Tarare, and the Last Incarnation of Figaro William Bruce McFadden
00:14:59
Play 32 XXXI - Beaumarchais and the Deluge mkirkpat
00:31:19
Play 33 XXXII - The Exile's Return, Last Years and Death Tatiana Chichilla
00:11:15