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26th Apr 2009Rimbaud & Verlaine
An event celebrating the life and works of two of France's greatest poets -
In 1872 literary France was scandalized when Arthur Rimbaud, the enfant terrible of French poetry, seduced Paul Verlaine, then a much more famous poet, away from his wife and child and ran away with him to London.
Two of the greatest French poets of the 19th century, they have been hailed as harbingers of the modern ages, the inspiration for Rock Stars, and as pioneers for gay rights.
This event celebrated the poetry of Rimbaud and Verlaine and the stromey but ceative peroiod they spent together at No. 8 Royal College Steet in King's Cross in 1873.
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Chaired by Alan Jenkins, Poetry and Deputy Editor of the TLS, his most recent collections include a highly acclaimed translation of Rimbaud's "Le Bateau Ivre": Drunken Boats, 2007.
Taking part in the event were
Graham Robb, literary and cultural historian, formerly Fellow and Lecturer at Exeter College, Oxford and prize-winning biographer of Rimbaud
Dominique Combe, Professor of French Literature at the Paris Sorbonne, also Visiting Professor and Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. His notable study of Rimbaud was published in 2004
Martin Sorrell, Professor of French at Exeter University. His books include: Verlaine: Selected Poems and Rimbaud: Collective Poems
Yann Frémy, currently author and co-editor of recognised Rimbaud and Verlaine studies and organiser of the annual 'Verlaine/Rimbaud' seminars at Paris Sorbonne.
Readings were by Bill Homewood and Estelle Kohler, distinguished actors and leading players with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Melanie Roberts conducted interviews with the participants which can be found here.
Thumbnail image:
Arthur Rimbaud, painting by Hervé Constant
Collection of the Arthur Rimbaud Museum in Paris