Ghéon, Henri

(1875–1944)

   Poet and Playwright.

   Ghéon was the pen-name of Henri Léon Vangeon, who was born in Bray-sur-Seine, France, and who trained as a doctor. As an adolescent, he lost his faith, but in his late thirties, after the death of his niece, he rejoined the Roman Catholic Church. He is remembered as the author of the verse collection Chanson d’Aube and for his Christian dramas which included La Vie Profonde de S. François d’Assisi, Le Mystère du Roi S. Louis and Mystère des Prodiges de Notre-Dame de Verdun. He founded a theatre group of young people for the performance of his plays which had clear similarities with mediaeval mystery dramas. He also wrote successful biographies of saints including teresa of lisieux, John bosco, vincent Ferrer and Martin of Tours.

   M. Deléglise, Le Théâtre d’Henri Ghéon (1947) [no English translation available].