Customer Reviews

Rimbaud: The Boy and the Poet

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I found this book after viewing the movie directed by Agnieszka Holland (1995) called "Total Eclipse". The stars are Leonardo diCaprio (Titanic, Romeo & Juliet) as Rimbaud and David Thewlin as Paul Verlaine. The story is based on the biography of the famous French poet Arthur Rimbaud. He was not only a boy genius, writing his best poetry while still a teenager in 1870's France, but he was also a flamboyant and notorious gay person.

At the time that he was at his creative best, the teenaged Rimbaud was seducing and carrying on a torrid affair with a much older man, the poet Paul Verlaine. Verlaine is very much the less famous poet of the pair, being somewhat of a drunk.

One can imagine the scandal today, never mind in France of 120 years ago. Remember this affair predates the English scandal of the young Marquis of Queensbury and the notorious Oscar Wilde. The book gives us a sense of the notoriety of the behaviour of the two poets. The affair ends when the older Verlaine shoots Rimbaud in Brussels.

One has to admire the strength of the young Rimbaud to live his life as he saw fit. He certainly showed the courage of his convictions, and dammed the consequences of his love for the older man. Even today such a life style would take more courage than most men could muster. All in all, the book is a facinating read about a person who did it all his way.

One shouldn't place stock in what was indeed a horrible movie. 'Total Eclipse' does nothing for a true admirer of Rimbaud. Rimbaud was not flamboyantly gay--he was a hedonist, therefore he was bi-sexual. If you really want to know about Rimbaud, I suggest you pick up a copy of Enid Starkie's book. There you will find all you need. I have nothing more to say to you--you disinterest me....