Petrus Borel
Encyclopedia
Petrus Borel was a French writer of the Romantic movement.
Born Joseph-Pierre Borel dHauterive at Lyon
, the 12 of 14 children of an ironmonger, he studied architecture
in Paris but abandoned it for literature. Nicknamed le Lycanthrope ("wolfman"), and the center of the circle of Bohemians
in Paris, he was noted for extravagant and eccentric writing, foreshadowing Surrealism
. He was not commercially successful though, and eventually was found a minor civil service post by his friends, including Théophile Gautier
.
He died at Mostaganem
in Algeria
.
He was the subject of a biography by Enid Starkie
, Petrus Borel: The Lycanthrope (1954) .
Born Joseph-Pierre Borel dHauterive at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, the 12 of 14 children of an ironmonger, he studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
in Paris but abandoned it for literature. Nicknamed le Lycanthrope ("wolfman"), and the center of the circle of Bohemians
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
in Paris, he was noted for extravagant and eccentric writing, foreshadowing Surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
. He was not commercially successful though, and eventually was found a minor civil service post by his friends, including Théophile Gautier
Théophile Gautier
Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, art critic and literary critic....
.
He died at Mostaganem
Mostaganem
Mostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
.
He was the subject of a biography by Enid Starkie
Enid Starkie
Enid Mary Starkie CBE, Litt.D , was an Irish literary critic, known for her biographical works on French poets. She was a Fellow of Somerville College, Oxford, and Lecturer and then Reader in the University.-Early life:She was the eldest daughter of Rt. Hon...
, Petrus Borel: The Lycanthrope (1954) .
Works
- Rhapsodies (1831)
- Champavert, contes immoraux (1833)
- Madame Putiphar (1839)