Alain-Rene Lesage (1668-1747) is considered to be France's first professional author. His works include the novels Diable Boiteaux and Gil Blas as well as Turcaret. John Norman is a writer whose plays include Edward and Anna, Mr Smith and Holyoake all of which have been produced by the Orange Tree Theatre.

Turcaret is generally accepted as one of the best of French comedies, few people in this country cann ever see it... an unjustly neglected foreign classic.