Guy Goffette
Encyclopedia
Guy Goffette is a Belgian
-born poet
and writer. Goffette published his first book of poems in 1969. Since then he has worked as an editor at the publishing company Gallimard
. Goffette's poetry has been compared to Verlaine
(of whom Goffette has written a fictional "biography") - the contemporary French poet Yves Bonnefoy
remarked
Goffette's short fiction (récits) often reimagine historic figures - the poet Paul Verlaine
in Verlaine d'ardoise et de pluie (1995) and again in L'autre Verlaine (2007) or the painter Pierre Bonnard
through his muse Marthe in Elle, par bonheur et toujours nue (published in English as Forever Nude in 2008). For several years, the American
poet
and critic Marilyn Hacker
has translated a number of his poems, which have appeared in The Paris Review, TriQuarterly
, Barrow Street
, and Poetry London
. A bilingual anthology of her translations of Goffette's poetry, Charlestown Blues , was published in 2007 by University Of Chicago Press
In addition to his poetry and his fiction, Goffette is a prolific essayist and a critic who regiularly contributes to the Nouvelle Revue Française
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
-born poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writer. Goffette published his first book of poems in 1969. Since then he has worked as an editor at the publishing company Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard is one of the leading French publishers of books. The Guardian has described it as having "the best backlist in the world". In 2003 it and its subsidiaries published 1418 titles....
. Goffette's poetry has been compared to Verlaine
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...
(of whom Goffette has written a fictional "biography") - the contemporary French poet Yves Bonnefoy
Yves Bonnefoy
Yves Bonnefoy is a French poet and essayist. Bonnefoy was born in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, the son of a railroad worker and a teacher....
remarked
Goffette is an heir to Verlaine. A poet who very courageously has decided to remain faithful to his own personal life, in its humblest moments. He keeps things simple, he is marvelously able to capture the emotions and desires common to us all. Goffette is without question one of the best poets of the present moment in France.
Goffette's short fiction (récits) often reimagine historic figures - the poet Paul Verlaine
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...
in Verlaine d'ardoise et de pluie (1995) and again in L'autre Verlaine (2007) or the painter Pierre Bonnard
Pierre Bonnard
Pierre Bonnard was a French painter and printmaker, as well as a founding member of Les Nabis.-Biography:...
through his muse Marthe in Elle, par bonheur et toujours nue (published in English as Forever Nude in 2008). For several years, the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and critic Marilyn Hacker
Marilyn Hacker
Marilyn Hacker is an American poet, translator and critic. She is Professor of English at the City College of New York....
has translated a number of his poems, which have appeared in The Paris Review, TriQuarterly
TriQuarterly
TriQuarterly Online is a not-for-profit American literary magazine published twice a year at Northwestern University that features fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, literary essays, reviews, a blog, and graphic art....
, Barrow Street
Barrow Street
Barrow Street may refer to:* Barrow Street , an arts area in the West Village.* Barrow Street, Dublin, home of Ireland's National Performing Arts School, Google Europe, and rock band U2's The Factory studio complex, among many other high-profile tenants* Barrow Street, Wiltshire, a village in the...
, and Poetry London
Poetry London
Poetry London is a London-based literary periodical. As Poetry London: A Bi-Monthly of Modern Verse and Criticism it was founded by Tambimuttu and the first issue was dated January/February 1939.In a new form the magazine is still in print....
. A bilingual anthology of her translations of Goffette's poetry, Charlestown Blues , was published in 2007 by University Of Chicago Press
University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, and a wide array of...
In addition to his poetry and his fiction, Goffette is a prolific essayist and a critic who regiularly contributes to the Nouvelle Revue Française
Nouvelle Revue Française
La Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals, including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger...
.
Awards
- 1989 Mallarmé prizeMallarmé prizeThe Mallarmé prize is a poetry prize awarded each year by the Académie Mallarmé to a French speaking poet....
for Eloge pour une cuisine de province - Grand Prix of the Académie françaiseAcadémie françaiseL'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
.
Selected Poetry
- Quotidien rouge, 1971.
- Nomadie, 1979.
- Huit muses neuves et nues, poems about the photographs by Miloslav Stibor, 1983.
- Solo d'ombres, 1983.
- Prologue à une maison sans murs, 1983.
- Le dormeur près du toit, 1983.
- La vie promise, 1991,(translations from the Italian "La vita promessa")
- Le pêcheur d'eau, Ed. Gallimard, Paris, 1995, coll. Blanche. Rééd. 2001.
- Icarus, (with a biligual translation by Tucker Zimmerman, 2000.
- Solo d'ombres précédé de Nomadie, 2003.
- L'adieu aux lisières, 2007
Selected Fiction
- Partance, 1995.
- Verlaine d'ardoise et de pluie, 1996.
- L'ami du jars, 1997.
- Elle, par bonheur et toujours nue, 1998 published in English as Forever Nude in a translation by Frank WynneFrank WynneFrank Wynne is an Irish literary translator and writer.Born in Co. Sligo, Ireland, he worked as a comics editor at Fleetway and later at Deadline magazine . He worked for a time at AOL before becoming a literary translator...
- Partance et autres lieux suivi de Nema problema, 2000.
- Un été autour du cou, 2001.
- Une enfance lingère, 2006.
- L'autre Verlaine, 2007.