Libel and a Renamed Author

Focussing on the case of the renowned 17th century French poet and musician Dassoucy, this paper examines the collapse and attempt to re-build his reputation through literary production. Although the accusations of sodomy and impiety against him were initially played out as criminal charges, the reputation of the “emperor of burlesque” was neither ruined by the rumors surrounding him, nor by his subsequent incarcerations, but by a printed pamphlet making fun of his lifestyle. Conversely, it is through the writing and the authorized publication of his Aventures that Dassoucy undertook to defend his honor. If he succeeded, at least in part, it was because of his deliberate literary choice of burlesque self-ridiculing.