Paul Verlaine
French poet and central figure of Symbolist and Decadent movements.
Gravador Félix Valloton ; editor Eugenio Hansen, OFS · CC BY-SA 4.0
He is considered one of the paramount exponents of the fin de siècle in French and international poetry. Revered for his lyrical sensibility and subtlety in nuance, Verlaine is acknowledged as one of the archetypical poètes maudits ('accursed poets'), a phrase he popularised but did not coin.
- died
- 8 January 1896, Paris, France
- field
- Poetry, writing, criticism
- nationality
- French
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Lore & Background
Verlaine was born in Metz. Following trial, Verlaine was sentenced to two years in prison for wounding Rimbaud with a revolver. During his sentence, he reverted to practising Catholicism and substantially composed Sagesse (published 1880); his later collections Jadis et naguère (published 1884) and Parallèlement (published 1889) were written and published after his release. After his release, Verlaine taught in England and later in France, where he fell in love with a pupil, Lucien Létinois, who died of typhus in 1883. Verlaine's last years saw descent into drug addiction, alcoholism, and poverty, though his reputation grew. He died in Paris from acute pneumonia on 8 January 1896.
Reader's Guide
Verlaine's significance lies in his profound influence on French and international poetry as a leading figure of the fin de siècle. His engagement with musicality, fluidity, wordplay, polysemy and prosodical manipulation attracted much admiration. Critics have noted interplays with melancholy and chiaroscuro, as well as a pioneering of metaphor and allegory. Beyond these characteristics lies a profound introspection that resonated with many contemporaneous artists, including Impressionist painters. His œuvre is highly eclectic, exploiting the characteristics of the French language. His legacy as an archetypical poète maudit endures, and his work remains a touchstone for the exploration of lyrical sensibility and emotional nuance.
Did You Know?
- Verlaine was sentenced to two years in prison for wounding Arthur Rimbaud with a revolver.
- Verlaine's pupil Lucien Létinois died of typhus in 1883.
- He served as head of the press bureau of the Central Committee during the Paris Commune.
- Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, and Maurice Ravel are among the composers who set Verlaine's poetry to music.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paul Verlaine?
Paul Verlaine (1844–1896) was a French poet, writer, and literary critic born in Metz. He is widely regarded as one of the most important voices of the fin de siècle in French poetry, associated with the Symbolist, Parnassian, and Decadent movements.
What is Paul Verlaine best known for?
Verlaine is celebrated for his lyrical musicality and subtle emotional nuance, earning him the title 'Prince of Poets' in 1894. He is also deeply tied to the Symbolist and Decadent movements, and his turbulent partnership with Arthur Rimbaud remains one of the most discussed episodes in literary history.
What does 'poète maudit' mean and why is Verlaine linked to the term?
A 'poète maudit' (accursed poet) refers to a poet whose life and work are shaped by suffering, transgression, or social marginality. Verlaine popularized the phrase in his 1884 preface to Les Poètes maudits, and he is frequently cited as the archetypal example of the concept.
How did Paul Verlaine's relationship with Arthur Rimbaud end?
In July 1873, Verlaine shot Rimbaud in the arm during a violent argument in Brussels, an act that led to his imprisonment for two years. The episode marked the final rupture of their intense partnership and became a defining tragedy in French literary lore.
How did Paul Verlaine die?
Verlaine passed away on 8 January 1896 in Paris, at the age of 51. His final years were marked by chronic alcoholism and poverty, and he died in relative obscurity despite his earlier acclaim.
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