Description
Book SynopsisFrench Love Poems is about the kinds of love that puzzle, delight and af?ict us throughout our lives, from going on walks with an attractive cousin before Sunday dinner (Nerval) to indulging a granddaughter (Hugo). On the way there’s the ?rst yes from lips we love (Verlaine), a sky full of stars re?ected fatally in Cleopatra’s eyes (Heredia), Iying awake waiting for your lover (Valéry), and the defeated toys of dead children (Gautier). The selection covers ?ve centuries, from Ronsard to Valéry. Other poets represented include Baudelaire, Mallarmé, Rimbaud, La Fontaine, Laforgue and Leconte de Lisle. The 35 poems, chosen by Alistair Elliot, are printed opposite his own highly skilful verse translations. There are also helpful notes on French verse technique and on points of obscurity. Poetry Book Society Recommended Translation.
Trade ReviewElliot is both a passionate and accurate translator and his Ronsard and Victor Hugo are as luminous as his versions of Verlaine and Mallarmé… his natural lyricism and acute sense of form make his French translations a scintillating collection. -- Elizabeth Jennings
An attractively varied collection, translated with diligence and ingenuity. -- Edwin Morgan
Table of ContentsArthur Rimbaud 10 Les Chercheuses de poux Gérard de Nerval 12 La Cousine Leconte de Lisle 14 Le Manchy Gérard de Nerval 18 Fantaisie Anonyme 20 Renaud le tueur de femmes Charles Baudelaire 24 La Géante Jean de la Fontaine 26 Tircis et Amarante Saint-Amant 30 Le Tombeau de Marmousette Pierre de Ronsard 34 Sonnets pour Hélène Paul Verlaine 36 Nevermore Joachim du Bellay 38 À Vénus Victor Hugo 40 «Elle était déchaussée» José-Maria de Heredia 42 Antoine et Cléopâtre Paul Valéry 44 Les Pas Pierre de Ronsard 46 Élégie xix Charles Baudelaire 48 Parfum exotique Charles Baudelaire 50 Sed Non Satiata Alfred de Musset 52 À Julie Tristan l’Hermite 54 Jalousie Maurice Scève 56 Délie Pernette du Guillet 58 «Non que je veuille ôter la liberté» Jules Laforgue 60 Solo de lune Stéphane Mallarmé 68 Brise marine Victor Hugo 70 «Demain, dès l’aube» Stéphane Mallarmé 72 Autre Éventail Victor Hugo 74 «Jeanne était au pain sec» Théophile Gautier 76 Les Joujoux de la Morte José-Maria de Heredia 78 La Jeune Morte Paul Verlaine 80 Le pinson d’E... Voltaire 82 À Madame du Châtelet Paul Verlaine 86 Colloque sentimental 90 Notes 94 Chronological Table
