Virginia Scott was Professor Emerita of Theatre at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She was a leading authority on early French and Italian theatre, whose books include The Commedia dell’Arte in Paris, Moliere: A Theatrical Life, and the award-winning Women on Staqe in Early Modern France. She was also noted for her translation of Moliere’s plays, as well as a critical edition of Tartuffe. She was an experienced dramaturg and had written plays on such historical subjects as Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette’s hair-dresser.