title: [The life of doctor Louis-Désiré Véron (1798-1867)].
abstract: The life of doctor Louis-Désiré Véron (1798-1867) was an incredible odyssey. Starting his professional life as an 'Interne des Hôpitaux de Paris', he found himself unable to enter the medical establishment at a time it was practically impossible to succeed in Parisian society without having being born into a wealthy family. He was eventually able to take his revenge on Paris when he had made a fortune from pharmacy. He became the head of the Le Pelletier Paris Opera (1831-1835), in one of the most brilliant periods of opera history, with productions of Robert le Diable by Meyerbeer and La Sylphide, a ballet choreographed by Filippo Taglioni. This latter was first interpreted by Marie, the prima ballerina daughter of Taglioni. Doctor Véron became her protector. He compensated for his ugly physical appearance by a combination of smart intelligence and a keen spirit, which enabled him to seduce Mademoiselle Rachel, one of the most famous tragic actresses of the era at La Comédie-Française.
authors.affiliation: Médecine Nucléaire & D.E.U. Cancérologie Clinique, The American Hospital of Paris, B.P. 109, 63, boulevard Victor-Hugo, F-92202 Neuilly-Sur-Seine Cedex. caplanchon@nerim.net
authors.forename: Claude A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Planchon
mesh_terms: D005602:France; D000077406:History of Pharmacy; D049672:History, 19th Century; D009146:Music / Q000266:history*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000266:history*
vernacular_title: Le fabuleux destin du docteur Véron.