Brieux, Eugene, << bree UH, oo ZHEHN >> (1858-1932), was a French playwright. He gained fame for a series of earnest, realistic plays that explore serious social problems. Brieux’s play Blanchette (1892) attacks French attitudes toward education. The Red Robe (1900) concerns corruption in the judiciary. Damaged Goods (1902) calls for the open discussion of the dangers of sexually transmitted disease. Maternity (1903) deals with abortion and supports birth control. Brieux’s plays are seldom performed today because of their excessive moralizing. However, they were widely discussed in their time, both in Europe and the United States. Brieux wrote more than 30 plays during his career. He was born on Jan. 19, 1858, in Paris. He died on Dec. 6, 1932.
