| Images |
 The grave of Gérard de Nerval at Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (28 Aug 2001) |
Nerval, Gérard de |
| POET, PLAYWRIGHT (FRANCE) |
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BORN 21 May 1808, Paris - DIED 5 Jan 1855, Paris REAL NAME Labrunie, Gérard GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (division 49, ligne 1) |
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Son of a military doctor from Napoleon's Grande Armée. His mother
died when he was two and he was raised by his great-uncle Antoine
Boucher. When his father returned from the war in 1814 he was
brought to Paris. When he was at school he befrieded Théofile
Gautier. In 1828 he translated Goethe's "Faust". Goethe himself complimented him with the work and futher Goethe translations followed. His own poetry displayed a passion for the world of the spirits. Victor Hugo liked his work. In 1836 he fell in love with the actress Jenny Colon, but she married the flutist Louis-Gabriel Leplus. In 1841 De Nerval had a nervous breakdown and in 1842 he was shocked by Jenny's early death. He travelled to the Levant, returning to Paris in 1844. After his third nervous breakdown he published a series of novellas titled "Les Illuminés" in 1852, describing his feelings. His mental situation worsened and in 1855 he hung himself from a window grating. The surrealists used his notion of the significance of dreams and Marcel Proust was influenced by his work. Related persons • was a friend of Gautier, Théophile • influenced Proust, Marcel Sources • Culbertson, Judi & Tom Randall, Permanent Parisians, Robson Books, London, 1991 • Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909 • Wikipedia (English) |
| Images |
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The grave of Gérard de Nerval at Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (28 Aug 2001) |
