About
Louise Labé, born Louise Charly in Lyon around 1524, is a French Renaissance poet. Nicknamed 'La Belle Cordière' after her father's trade, she received an exceptional education for a woman of her time, learning Latin, Italian, and music. In 1555, she published her complete Works, including sonnets, elegies, and the prose dialogue Debate Between Folly and Love. Her poetry, which openly expresses female desire, is considered among the most original of her era. She hosted a literary salon in Lyon, frequented by poets such as Maurice Scève. After her death in 1566, her work fell into obscurity before being rediscovered in the 19th century.
* 1524-01-01 — † 1566-04-25
Major works
- Œuvres (1555)poetry collection
- Débat de Folie et d'Amour (1555)prose dialogue
Key milestones
- 1555Publication of her complete Works in Lyon by Jean de Tournes.
- 1566Death in Parcieux-en-Dombes, near Lyon.
- 2006Mireille Huchon challenges the attribution of her works in 'Louise Labé: une créature de papier', a debated thesis.
Themes
passionate lovefemale desirenature and mythologymelancholyintellectual emancipation
Sources: britannica.com · data.bnf.fr · id.loc.gov