Robert, Marquis de Flers

Robert de Flers studied literature and law and considered entering the diplomatic service before pursuing literature and journalism. At the Lycée Condorcet, he was a classmate of Marcel Proust (1871-1922) and the two writers were to remain very close throughout their lives.

A trip to the Orient after completing his studies inspired his first writings: a short story, a tale, and a travelogue titled Vers l’Orient (Towards the East). De Flers, however, was first and foremost a playwright. Together with Gaston Arman de Caillavet (1870-1915), he wrote cheerful and witty comedies and librettos. For 15 years, the duo was known as masters of French vaudeville.

After Caillavet’s death and the outbreak of World War I, de Flers played a leading diplomatic role between France and Romania. After the war, he collaborated with Francis de Croisset (1877-1937) writing plays and librettos.

As early as 1898, de Flers was involved in the defense of alleged German spy Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935) together with Émile Zola (1840-1902) and de Caillavet. De Flers was also a member of the general council of the Lozère department.

In 1913 the author of L’Habit vert (The Green Jacket), a comedy that mocked the Académie française, de Flers was himself elected as a member of the Académie française in 1920 and was later appointed Commander of the Legion of Honor. In 1921, he became the literary director of the Figaro.