Poet. He was born as Etienne into a middle class family. Obtaining a teaching certificate in England, he returned to France and took a teaching position at Tournon. He remained a teacher while publishing his poems until retiring from education in 1893. He began to hold salons at his home on Tuesdays and the artists and writers attending became known as "Les Mardistes." This group included W.B. Yeats, Rainer Maria Rilke, Paul Valery, Paul Verlaine and others. He began construction on the poem "L'apres-midi d'un fauna" in 1865. Although many consider this a gem of French symbolism, it was rejected twice before finally being published in 1876. Edouard Manet would create the embellishments for the text. The poem inspired many composers, most notable Debussy with his "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn." It would also serve as the basis for ballets by Nijinksy, Jerome Robbins and others. His translation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" would also be illustrated by Manet. However, the majority of Mallarme's poems did not lend to translation easily. His work was multilayered and the homophonous variation between the written and oral presentation of his writings can be troublesome for any translator. Many recognize him as one of France's four major poets of his time, along with Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Arthur Rimbaud. In 1863, he married Maria Christina Gerhard. Their daughter, Geneviève was born the following year. His son, Anatole, would die at the age of eight, and he would leave an unfinished poem, "For Anatole's Tomb" in his memory. He died unexpectedly at his country retreat. He would publish over four volumes and various poems prior to his death.
Poet. He was born as Etienne into a middle class family. Obtaining a teaching certificate in England, he returned to France and took a teaching position at Tournon. He remained a teacher while publishing his poems until retiring from education in 1893. He began to hold salons at his home on Tuesdays and the artists and writers attending became known as "Les Mardistes." This group included W.B. Yeats, Rainer Maria Rilke, Paul Valery, Paul Verlaine and others. He began construction on the poem "L'apres-midi d'un fauna" in 1865. Although many consider this a gem of French symbolism, it was rejected twice before finally being published in 1876. Edouard Manet would create the embellishments for the text. The poem inspired many composers, most notable Debussy with his "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn." It would also serve as the basis for ballets by Nijinksy, Jerome Robbins and others. His translation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" would also be illustrated by Manet. However, the majority of Mallarme's poems did not lend to translation easily. His work was multilayered and the homophonous variation between the written and oral presentation of his writings can be troublesome for any translator. Many recognize him as one of France's four major poets of his time, along with Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Arthur Rimbaud. In 1863, he married Maria Christina Gerhard. Their daughter, Geneviève was born the following year. His son, Anatole, would die at the age of eight, and he would leave an unfinished poem, "For Anatole's Tomb" in his memory. He died unexpectedly at his country retreat. He would publish over four volumes and various poems prior to his death.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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