Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) was a pivotal French poet and essayist, best known for his groundbreaking collection "Les Fleurs du mal" (The Flowers of Evil), published in 1857. This work, which explores themes of beauty, decadence, and eroticism, faced censure and legal action for obscenity. Another significant contribution is his prose poetry in "Le Spleen de Paris," which pushed the boundaries of poetic form. Baudelaire also translated Edgar Allan Poe’s works into French, bringing Poe’s gothic tales to a broader audience in France. His translation efforts, alongside his own critical writings, established him as a key figure in 19th-century French literature. Baudelaire's influence remains evident in modernist and symbolist movements.