Short biography - Paul Verlaine (1844-1896) remains in the pantheon of French poets of the 19th century, as one of the most remarkable both for his work imbued with musicality, and for his destiny marked with the seal of passion and tragedy. His existence will be lastingly marked by his meeting with Rimbaud, with whom he will maintain a sulphurous and alcoholic relationship. His work will express the dualism of an existence made up of the search for quiet happiness and an escape into morbid pleasures. In 1893, three years before his death, he was crowned "Prince of Poets" by his contemporaries.
Biography of Verlaine
Born in Metz on March 30, 1844, Paul Verlaine was the only son of wealthy bourgeois. His parents and in particular his father, an officer, brought him up in the Catholic tradition. Young Paul discovered his homosexual attractions early on, for a time relegated to second place by his love for Élisa Moncomble, his cousin eight years older than him, whom Paul's parents were raising.
After his baccalaureate, Verlaine became a modest employee at the City of Paris, an existence of which he filled the void, through his artistic activity. Writing poems since high school, from 1865 he frequented poets such as Théodore de Banville and François Coppée, and was a fervent admirer of Charles Baudelaire. He contributed in 1866 to the first Contemporary Parnassus , a collective work of poetry.
Although his work testifies to the influence of Parnassian poetry, Verlaine already demonstrates a very personal formal and musical research, combining verses with a number of syllables odd a versification less rich, freer, than that practiced then. It still shows originality by skilfully mixing the description of a picturesque and light outside world (as in the Fêtes Galantes) and that of a much more melancholy individual feeling, echoing Baudelairian themes.
Verlaine and Rimbaud, the accursed poets
In 1869, Verlaine fell in love with Mathilde Mauté, a sixteen-year-old bourgeoise to whom he dedicated several poems:Les fêtes galantes , full of melancholic charm and betraying her need for purity. 1870 sees the couple married. Their happiness, however, will be short-lived. Verlaine first pays his communard commitment and loses his job at the town hall. Shortly after, he receives a letter from a young stranger who admires his poetry and introduces him to his own, it is Arthur Rimbaud.
Impressed by the work of the young man, Verlaine welcomed him into his home. Their friendship soon turns into carnal passion. The resulting threesome is marked by the alcoholism of the two lovers, as well as by often poorly contained violence.
During the summer of 1872, Verlaine abandoned his wife and fled with Rimbaud. Their journey takes them to England and Belgium, where his various experiences inspire him among his most beautiful works (Romances without words in particular). The adventure is short-lived. During yet another scene, Verlaine fires a revolver shot at Rimbaud, whom he slightly wounds. The young man complains. Verlaine is sentenced to two years in prison.
The decline of a convert
Deprived of his freedom, subjected to repetitive work, Verlaine discovered reassuring certainties in his confinement. Thus he converted to a Catholicism imbued with mysticism, which inspired his famous collection Sagesse (1880). In 1884 he published Jadis et Naguère which includes the famous Poetic Art .
Out of prison, Verlaine led a simple life as a teacher in England and then in France. In particular, he became friends with one of his students, Lucien Létinois, who died early, thus providing the material for new works imbued with great sadness.
The last years of his life, which saw him sick and destitute, although recognized for his talent (wasn't he then the "Prince of poets"?) are hardly conducive to his work, the quality of which is gradually declining. He died at the age of 51 on January 8, 1896, worn down by a life divided between the excesses of passion and an unsatisfied quest for wisdom.
Verlaine:main works
- 1866:Poems of Saturn
- 1869:gallant parties
- 1870:The Good Song
- 1874:Romances without words
- 1880:Wisdom
- 1884:Once upon a time
- 1889:Parallel
Bibliography
- Complete Poetic Works of Paul Verlaine by Paul Verlaine. Laffont, 1992.
- Verlaine or the shallows of the sublime by Christophe Dauphin. 2006.