Œuvres Complètes.
Paris: Albert Messein, 1919-20 Stock Code: 138447
A handsomely bound set of Verlaine's poems which includes his collections Poèmes saturniens (1866), Fêtes galantes (1869), Romances sans paroles (1874), Sagesse (1880), and Les Poètes maudits (1884). Romances sans paroles was inspired by Verlaine's relationship with his wife, Mathilde Mauté, and his lover, the French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Verlaine eventually abandoned his wife and child for Rimbaud, and left for London in 1872. Their infamously stormy affair culminated in an argument during which Rimbaud shot and wounded Verlaine in a jealous rage. The violent attack led to Verlaine's arrest and Romances sans paroles was published during his imprisonment.
Associated with the Symbolist and the Decadent movements, Verlaine's work was recognised as groundbreaking by his contemporaries and served as inspiration for composers such as Claude Debussy. Debussy set many of Verlaine's poems to music, including Clair de Lune which also became the inspiration for the famous third movement of his Suite bergamasque (1890).
Description
5 volumes, octavo (183 x 125 mm). Contemporary green morocco, gilt titles and floral motifs to spines in compartments, raised bands decorated in gilt, boards elaborately blocked in gilt floral border, gilt inner dentelles surrounding a floral border, green endpapers, top edges gilt.
Illustrations
Text in French.
Condition
Spines toned to brown, tips lightly rubbed, offsetting from turn-ins, else a near-fine set.
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