Renee Vivien

Renée Vivien, born Pauline Tarn (1877-1909) was an American poet who wrote in the French language. She took to heart all the mannerisms of Symbolism, and was one of the last poets to claim allegiance to the school. She wrote verse and prose poetry.

She was born on Long Island, New York and emigrated to France at an early age. Her dress and lifestyle were as notorious among the bohemian set as her verse was; she was openly lesbian and carried on a well known affair with actress Nathalie Barney, and her close childhood friend, Violet Shillito[?]. She died, reportedly of self-starvation; her death was reported at the time as a suicide, but was possibly the result of anorexia nervosa complicated by alcoholism.

During her brief life, Vivien was a prolific poet. Much of her verse is veiled autobiography. Her principal published books of verse are Cendres et Poussières (1902), La Vénus des aveugles (1903), A l'heure des mains jointes (1906), Flambeaux éteints (1907), Sillages (1908), Poèmes en Prose (1909), Dans un coin de violettes (1909), and Haillons (1910).

Quotation

Voici la nuit: je vais ensevelir mes morts,

Mes songes, mes désirs, mes douleurs, mes remords,

Tout le passé... Je vais ensevelir mes morts.

---Let the Dead Bury Their Dead

External link

• Poems by Renée Vivien (in French): http://poesie.webnet.fr/auteurs/vivien.html

• Renee Vivien ou le drame de l'absolu (in French): http://perso.wanadoo.fr/laureline/renee_vivienl.htm