Аннотация: Baudelaire. Vibrations of a Universe and a Soul. The biography of Charles Baudelaire, written by Henri Troyat. A literary note.
Baudelaire. Vibrations of a Universe and a Soul. The biography of Charles Baudelaire, written by Henri Troyat. A literary note.
1.Two biographies: an ordinary and a professional.
As Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) has two biographies. The first biography is the biography of an 'ordinary' person. She is conscientiously, carefully, in detail written by Henri Troyat.
The second biography is a 'professional' one. From Henri Troyat, for example, we learn that Baudelaire knew English well (supposedly, his mother spent her childhood in the UK).
'He learned English as a child, speaking this language with his mother, who was born in London from French parents and spent her early childhood in England.' (Henri Troyat). [the translation from Russian text]
Baudelaire was improving his knowledge of the English language. He studied English at college.
Moreover, Charles Baudelaire, starting to translate the works of Edgar Allan Poe, "... began to make considerable efforts to improve own skills in this language, bought dictionaries, consulted with specialists and teachers." (Henri Troyat). [the translation from Russian text]
Moreover, 'In order to be sure that he correctly conveys the meaning of the original, Baudelaire walked through Parisian taverns, looking for English sailors who could explain to him some incomprehensible expressions of a sea jargon.' (Henri Troyat). [the translation from Russian text]
Translation at this level is an independent creative fact - facts from a professional biography Charles Baudelaire.
It is clear to the reader of the biography that Baudelaire was translating the works of Edgar Allan Poe, trying to convey the nuances of the American writer's creativity, which are not obvious to most people.
It would be interesting to get acquainted with any examples of the efforts of Baudelaire (as a translator of the works of Edgar Allan Poe) or learn about the hypotheses of Henri Troyat - what was the meaning of the efforts of Baudelaire. Examples and hypotheses of such kind are difficult to find in the biography under consideration.
2. A colossal creative intuition and a creative sensitivity.
From the biography written by Henri Troyat, it is clear that Charles Baudelaire had great creative intuition and unusual creative hypersensitivity.
Comprehending the non-standard nature of his creative sensitivity, he was putting himself and the own abilities very high.
Many of his assessments and forecasts, directed both at himself and at other representatives of creative professions, turned out to be true.
Let me assume that Charles Baudelaire succeeded to grasp those vibrations that, for example, were reflected, were incarnated in the works of Guy de Maupassant and Jerome Salinger.
("In the eternal beat of the sea and in rushes of the western wind "Maupassant, Maupassant, Maupassant" is heard.... - Armand Lanoux 'Maupassant') [the translation from Russian text]
About Charles Baudelaire's creative intuition, we can learn certain information from a biography written by Henri Troyat. Charles Baudelaire wrote a lot on the themes of art (in the text of the biography, in particular, 'A Hero of Our Time' (a novel by Mikhail Lermontov) is mentioned ...). Charles Baudelaire collaborated on the fourth volume of the anthology of French poets - he wrote seven articles about contemporary (for him) poets.
As for Charles Baudelaire's ability to feel the creative vibrations of the Universe and the Soul, we can rely on the statements of Henri Troyat: 'If the official circles clearly kept clear of this cult, the youth seemed enchanted. Baudelaire was read ... in schools, someone tried to imitate in a student verses ... his contempt for the whole world.
In 1917, fifty years after the death of the poet, according to the law, his work became public domain, and now anyone could publish his poems. (...) Luxurious illustrated publications began to appear, filling the book market. At the same time, demand did not decrease. In the home libraries of decent people, these books are adjacent to the works of Victor Hugo.
So from generation to generation the glory of Baudelaire is growing and growing. She crosses the boundaries and evokes responses in all languages. ' (Henri Troyat).
The biography of the "ordinary" person - Charles Baudelaire - was gradually forgotten by the social environment.
In the foreground a creative results appeared.
A creative, professional biography is derived from the ability to grasp subtle vibrations. Deciphering a professional biography is a complex and subjective matter.
As for the ability to grasp the vibrations of the Universe and the Soul, Charles Baudelaire had to wait until his 'ordinary' biography would cease to obscure the own creative abilities of Baudelaire and his path as a poet and writer.
Baudelaire-human went away in the past. So, a reader, now, was not embarrassing by Baudelaire's personality and manners. The creative results of Baudelaire, a poet and writer, came to the fore.
Coronavirus and pandemic may be separate, independent occasions to recall Charles Baudelaire, - for example, there is an opinion that one of Baudelaire's themes is the perversion of human nature, born of the sick life of big cities. Did Baudelaire feel the vibrations of the World? Baudelaire corresponds to the present?
Generally, Charles Baudelaire had a huge plans. 'As for my Kamchatka, if I so often was encouraged, I think I would have had the strength to make immense Siberia out of it, only warm and populated by people.' (A quote from Henri Troyat 'Baudelaire').
April 19, 2020 21:02
Translation from Russian into English: April 20, 2020 07:49.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Бодлер. Вибрации Вселенной и Души. Литературная заметка о биографии Шарля Бодлера, написанной Анри Труайя.'.