Charles Beaudelaire

The Poems of Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire

In nineteenth-century Paris, Charles Baudelaire provoked the excoriations of critics and was legally banned for corrupting public morality, yet he was a key influence on many later thinkers and writers, including Marcel Proust, Walter Benjamin, and T. S. Eliot. Baudelaire’s life was as controversial and vivid as his works, as Rosemary Lloyd reveals in Charles Baudelaire, a succinct yet learned recounting. Lloyd argues that Baudelaire’s writings and life were intimately intertwined—and both were powerfully informed by contemporaneous political events, from his participation in the 1848 Revolution to the public morality codes that banned his controversial writings, such as Les fleurs du mal. The book traces the influence of these events and other political moments in his poems and essays and analyzes his works in this new light. Lloyd also examines the links between Baudelaire’s works and cultural movements of the time, from the rise and fall of Romanticism to symbolism, and explores his groundbreaking translations of Edgar Allan Poe’s writings into French. Baudelaire’s tumultuous personal life figures large here, too, as Lloyd draws out fascinating aspects of his personality and daily life through analysis of archival writings of his friends and acquaintances. The book also documents his battles with syphilis and drug addiction, which ultimately resulted in his death. An engrossing and wholly readable biography, Charles Baudelaire will be essential for scholars and Baudelaire admirers alike.

Charles Baudelaire: A Study

In "Charles Baudelaire: A Study," Arthur Symons delves deeply into the life and work of the enigmatic French poet, offering a critical examination that merges biography with literary analysis. Symons employs a rich, impressionistic style that captures the essence of Baudelaire'Äôs innovative poetic sensibility and his struggles against societal conventions. This study not only contextualizes Baudelaire within the broader currents of 19th-century literature but also highlights his influence on modernist thought, exploring themes of beauty, decadence, and existential despair that permeate Baudelaire'Äôs landmark collection, "Les Fleurs du mal." Symons's nuanced prose reflects his profound engagement with the Symbolist movement, further amplifying the significance of Baudelaire's contributions to both poetry and art. Arthur Symons, a prominent figure in the British literary scene of the early 20th century, was deeply influenced by French symbolism and the aesthetic movements of his time. A poet and critic himself, Symons sought to bridge the gap between traditional forms and modern expression. His own poetic style was shaped by a fascination with the psychological dimensions of art and the complexities of human emotion, motivating him to present Baudelaire not just as an artist but as a precursor to modern existential thought. Symons'Äôs intimate knowledge of European literature lends authority to his nuanced perspectives. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the multilayered legacy of Baudelaire, offering insights that resonate with both seasoned scholars and newcomers to his work. Symons'Äôs passionate engagement with his subject reveals the timeless nature of Baudelaire'Äôs explorations of beauty and melancholy, making this study essential for readers interested in the evolution of modern poetry and the interplay of artistic movements.