Octave Mirbeau died on 16 February 1917 in rue Beaujon, aged 69. A French novelist, playwright, art critic and journalist, Mirbeau was known for his fierce, satirical writing. His novels include Le Calvaire, The Diary of a Chambermaid and The Torture Garden, which expose hypocrisy, cruelty and social injustice through harsh, often shocking narratives. As a critic he was an early champion of painters such as Monet, Pissarro, Van Gogh and Cézanne, and of the sculptor Rodin. He took the side of Alfred Dreyfus in the affair that divided France, and he was close to anarchist circles. His comedy Business Is Business was a great success at the Comédie-Française in 1903.
Before and after
- 1917Discovery of protactinium
- from 1917 to 1921Ukrainian–Soviet War
- 1917Founding of Federal University of Science and Innovation of Rio de Janeiro
- 1917Russian Revolution
- 16 February 1917Death of Octave Mirbeau
- from 8 March 1917 to 16 March 1917February Revolution
- from 8 March 1917 to 11 March 1917Fall of Baghdad
- 26 March 1917First Battle of Gaza
- from 9 April 1917 to 16 May 1917Battle of Arras
More in Art, literature & culture
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.