Selected Poems (Oxford World's Classics) by Paul Verlaine

by Paul Verlaine

Unknown Binding

About the author

Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.

Despite Rimbaud admiring his poetry, these poets had a stormy affair which led to Verlaine's incarceration after shooting Rimbaud. This incident indirectly preceded his re-conversion to Roman Catholicism.

Verlaine's last years were particularly marked by alcoholism, drug addiction and poverty.

His poems have inspired many composers, such as Chopin, Fauré and Poldowski.

Art Poétique describes his decadent style and alludes to the relevance of nuances and veils in poetry.

Reviews

[Wolfy Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Verlaine's writing style. His poems exude Romanticism, and his way of portraying imagery is truly beautiful. One of my favorite poems from this collection (hard to choose since there's many gems) is 'It's languor and ecstasy.' Just look at the lines:
"Fresh, frail murmur!
Whispers and warbles
Like the sigh
Of grass disturbed..."

What a creative use of language! I can definitely note the depiction of frailness and pining that comes with a love that is unsure...a love that brims with fresh hope but is still as unsteady as a frail murmur, as quiet as the sigh of grass.

[sophia]

smells of homo

[Maria]

Took some time to get through, many were about authors favourite topics (women), some beautiful ideas present