Arthur Rimbaud
Arthur Rimbaud was a French poet known for his influence on modern literature and arts, which prefigured surrealism. Born in Charleville-Mézières on October 20, 1854, he produced his best-known works while still in his late teens—Victor Hugo described him at the time as 'an infant Shakespeare'—and gave up creative writing altogether before the age of 21. His most famous works include 'Le Bateau ivre' (The Drunken Boat) and 'Une Saison en Enfer' (A Season in Hell). Rimbaud's pioneering symbolism and exploration of the inner self significantly impacted the subsequent movements and various poets.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. A Season in Hell
"A Season in Hell" is a deeply introspective work, exploring the author's tumultuous life and struggles through a series of prose poems. The author grapples with his own moral crisis, spiritual torment and the anguish of unrequited love, while also critiquing society and the human condition. This journey through despair and redemption, filled with vivid and surreal imagery, is considered one of the pioneering works of Symbolist literature.
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2. Illuminations
"Illuminations" is a collection of prose poems that delve into the author's vivid dreamlike visions and his exploration of his inner psyche. These poems are filled with symbolic imagery and metaphors that challenge traditional poetic norms. The author uses his work to express his disillusionment with the conventional world, his longing for spiritual enlightenment, and his quest for personal freedom. The collection is a testament to the author's innovative style and his significant influence on modernist literature.
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3. Collected Poems
"Collected Poems" is a compilation of works by a renowned French poet, known for his influence on modern literature and arts, which prefigured surrealism. His poetry is characterized by its innovative use of symbolism and imagery that explores themes such as adolescence, rebellion, and the loss of innocence. The collection includes both his early works, filled with the youthful vitality and rebellious spirit, and his later, more introspective pieces.
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4. Le Bateau Ivre
"Le Bateau Ivre" is a lengthy poem that employs vivid and extravagant imagery to depict the journey of a drifting boat. The narrative voice of the poem is the boat itself, which tells of its experiences navigating through wild seas, encountering exotic creatures and landscapes, and ultimately losing control to the whims of the water. The poem is often interpreted as an exploration of the poet's own tumultuous life and his quest for liberation through the abandonment of societal norms and constraints.
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5. Complete Works
The book is a comprehensive collection of the revolutionary works of a French poet known for his influence on modern literature and arts, particularly among the Symbolists and Surrealists. Written during an astonishingly brief period of creative output that ended by the time the poet was 21, the anthology includes a variety of poems, letters, and prose pieces. These works are characterized by their vibrant imagery, exploration of the subconscious, and rebellion against traditional poetic forms and bourgeois society. The poet's intense and tumultuous life is reflected in his writing, which continues to inspire and challenge readers with its innovation and raw emotional power.
