About
Maurice Maeterlinck, born in Ghent in 1862, is a Belgian writer in French. After studying law, he turned to literature. His first play, La Princesse Maleine (1889), was praised by critics. He became a major figure of Symbolism with plays such as Pelléas et Mélisande (1892) and The Blue Bird (1909). He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. He also wrote philosophical essays and naturalist works, including The Life of the Bee (1901). He died in Nice in 1949.
* 1862-08-28 — † 1949-05-06
Major works
- La Princesse Maleine (1889)play
- Pelléas et Mélisande (1892)play
- L'Oiseau bleu (1909)play
- La Vie des abeilles (1901)essay
- Le Trésor des humbles (1896)essay
Key milestones
- 1911Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first and only Belgian to date.
- 1932King Albert I of Belgium confers on him the title of Count.
- 1948Completes his memoirs, Bulles bleues – Souvenirs heureux.
Themes
symbolismdeathmysticismnaturedestiny
Sources: nobelprize.org · nobelprize.org · britannica.com