About
Gérard de Nerval, born Gérard Labrunie, is a major French Romantic writer and poet. Orphaned of his mother at an early age, he grew up in the Valois region, which would mark his work. He became known at 20 for his translation of Goethe's Faust. Close to Théophile Gautier, he frequented the literary circles of his time. Subject to bouts of madness, he wrote his most famous works in the last years of his life, exploring dreams and the imaginary. He committed suicide in 1855. His work influenced Symbolism and Surrealism.
* 1808-05-22 — † 1855-01-26
Major works
- Faust de Goethe (1828)translation
- Voyage en Orient (1851)travelogue
- Les Chimères (1854)poetry collection
- Les Filles du feu (1854)short story collection
- Aurélia ou le Rêve et la Vie (1855)autobiographical narrative
Key milestones
- 1828Publication of his translation of Goethe's Faust, praised by Goethe himself.
- 1841First nervous breakdown, followed by several hospitalizations.
- 1855Death by suicide in Paris.
Themes
dream and realitymadnesstravelnostalgiamythology
Sources: heritage.bnf.fr · poetryfoundation.org · arcs-atom.uottawa.ca