Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Born:
- April 9, 1821, Paris, France
- Died:
- August 31, 1867, Paris, France
- Nationality:
- French
- Profession(s):
- Poet, Essayist, Art Critic, Translator
Early Life and Education
- Baudelaire's father died when he was six years old; his mother remarried a year later to Jacques Aupick, a future general and diplomat.
- His relationship with his stepfather was strained and greatly influenced his life and work.
- He attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand but was expelled shortly before graduation.
- He traveled to Calcutta in 1841 at the insistence of his family, though he quickly returned to Paris.
Career and Major Achievements
- Baudelaire initially lived a Bohemian lifestyle in Paris, incurring significant debts.
- He began publishing art criticism, gaining recognition for his perceptive analyses of contemporary art, particularly that of Eugène Delacroix.
- He became known for his translations of Edgar Allan Poe's works, introducing Poe to a wider European audience.
Notable Works
- Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil) (1857): His most famous collection of poetry, exploring themes of decadence, beauty, and urban life. The collection faced censorship upon initial publication.
- Petits poèmes en prose (Paris Spleen) (1869): A collection of prose poems, published posthumously.
- L'Art romantique (The Romantic Art) (1868): A collection of essays on art and literature, including essays on Delacroix and Poe.
- Translations of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories and poems.
Legacy and Impact
Charles Pierre Baudelaire is considered one of the most important and influential poets of the 19th century. The phrase 'baudelaire biography eveneral', while syntactically awkward, points to the continuing interest in his life and work. His themes of urban alienation, psychological complexity, and the exploration of beauty in darkness profoundly influenced subsequent generations of writers, including Symbolist and Modernist poets.