Verlaine

Paul Verlaine (1844–1896) was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement, whose lyric poetry is celebrated for its musical language and refined sensibility. Born in Metz, he became a prominent figure in the Parisian literary world and one of the leading French poets of the late 19th century.

Verlaine’s early collections established his reputation. Les Poèmes saturniens (1866) and Fêtes galantes (1869) showcased his melodic verse and atmospheric imagery. Romances sans paroles (1874) is notable for poems such as L’Art poétique, in which he emphasizes music and emotion as guiding forces in poetry. His later work, Sagesse (1881), continued to explore urban modernity and intimate mood. Verlaine’s life was marked by a famous affair with Arthur Rimbaud; the relationship culminated in 1873 when Verlaine shot Rimbaud in Brussels, resulting in a prison sentence and a lasting, if turbulent, legacy in literary history.

Verlaine’s style is characterized by musical cadences, a sensuous and suggestive imagery, and a flexible approach to form that helped shape modern French lyric poetry. His work influenced the Symbolists and later writers, contributing to a shift toward suggestive, musical language in poetry. Verlaine remains a central figure in discussions of 19th-century French verse, with an enduring legacy in the study of rhythm, mood, and the musical potential of language.