About
Gustave Kahn (1859-1936) was a French writer and a major figure of Symbolism. Born in Metz, he studied at the École des Chartes and the École des langues orientales. He founded or directed avant-garde reviews such as La Vogue and Le Symboliste, publishing Rimbaud, Mallarmé and Verlaine. His collection Les Palais nomades (1887) illustrates free verse, of which he was one of the inventors with Jules Laforgue. He exposed his theory in the preface to Premiers poèmes (1897). An art critic and novelist, he was also a Dreyfusard and a defender of Zionism.
* 1859-12-21 — † 1936-09-05
Major works
- Les Palais nomades (1887)poetry collection
- Chansons d'amant (1891)poetry collection
- Domaine de fée (1895)poetry collection
- Symbolistes et décadents (1902)critical essay
- Contes juifs (1926)short story collection
Key milestones
- 1886Becomes secretary then director of the review La Vogue
- 1886Cofounds the review Le Symboliste with Jean Moréas and Paul Adam
- 1897Exposes his theory of free verse in the preface to Premiers poèmes
Themes
free versesymbolismart criticismJudaism and Zionismpolitical engagement (Dreyfus affai
Sources: britannica.com · larousse.fr