Biography 1935 - 1952

1936: Wedding with Rodica Burlanu and death of his mother. Besides Ionesco is for the first time confronted with the rising Fascism in the streets for Bucharest.

1937: Teacher at High School in Bucharest.

1938: Scholarship for a study in Paris – Ionesco leaves Romania. The intended dissertation on "Sin and death in French poetry since Baudelaire" Ionesco never finished. Later Ionesco said in this respect: "I wrote this dissertation in form of a theatre play". In answering the questions whether he was refering to "the king dies" Ionesco replied: "I refer to all of my plays" (Quelle Biographie Rowohlt Verlag). In Paris Ionesco develops a liking in the works of Emmanuel Mounier, Berdiaev, Jacques Maritain and Gabriel Marcel.

1939-1942: Ionesco journeys to Romania and due to the beginning war turmoil his return to France is delayed ("by a few weeks"). Back to France Ionesco initially lives at the "Hotel de al Poste" in Marseille.

1944: Birth of his daughter Marie-France.

1945: Proof-reader for a publisher of administration publications in Paris. Ionesco moves to 38, rue Claude-Terrasse, Paris 16e.

1948: November: Ionesco’s father dies.

1948-1949: Writing of “Die kahle Sängerin”.

1950: May 11: Premiere of "La Cantatrice chauve" at Théâtre des Noctambules (Regie: Nicolas Bataille).

1951: February 20, Premiere of "La Lecon" at Thèâtre de Poche-Montparnasse.

1952: April 22, Premiere of "Les Chaises" at Thèâtre du Nouveau Lancry. October 7 "La Cantatrice chauve" and "La Lecon" are for the first time shown together at "Théâtre de la Huchette" (until April 26, 1993). Ionesco becomes a member of "Collège de pataphysique".