Renée Vivien

Renée Vivien (11 June 1877 – 18 November 1909) was a British poet who wrote in the French language. She was a key figure in the Symbolist movement and is often associated with the Belle Époque period in France. Vivien is known for her passionate and melancholic poetry, which often explored themes of love, loss, and longing.

Early Life

Renée Vivien was born Pauline Mary Tarn in London, England. She was the daughter of a wealthy British father and an American mother. After her father's death, she inherited a substantial fortune, which allowed her to live independently and pursue her literary interests.

Literary Career

Vivien moved to Paris in her early twenties, where she immersed herself in the literary and artistic circles of the time. She was heavily influenced by the works of Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Stéphane Mallarmé. Her poetry is characterized by its rich imagery and emotional intensity.

Vivien published her first collection of poems, Études et Préludes, in 1901. She went on to publish several more collections, including Cendres et Poussières (1902), Évocations (1903), and La Vénus des aveugles (1904). Her work often drew on Greek mythology and Sapphic themes, reflecting her own experiences and relationships.

Personal Life

Renée Vivien was openly lesbian and had several significant relationships with women. One of her most notable relationships was with the American heiress Natalie Clifford Barney, who was also a prominent figure in the Parisian literary scene. Their relationship was tumultuous and deeply influenced Vivien's work.

Vivien also had a close relationship with the French writer Hélène de Zuylen de Nyevelt, with whom she co-authored several works under the pseudonym Paule Riversdale. Despite her wealth and literary success, Vivien struggled with depression and alcoholism.

Death and Legacy

Renée Vivien's health deteriorated rapidly in her early thirties, and she died on 18 November 1909 at the age of 32. Her death was attributed to complications from anorexia nervosa, exacerbated by her alcoholism and drug use.

Vivien's work was largely forgotten after her death but experienced a resurgence of interest in the late 20th century, particularly among scholars of LGBT literature and women's studies. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering figure in both the Symbolist movement and lesbian literature.

Selected Works

• Études et Préludes (1901)
• Cendres et Poussières (1902)
• Évocations (1903)
• La Vénus des aveugles (1904)
• Sillages (1908)

See Also

• Symbolist movement
• Belle Époque
• Natalie Clifford Barney
• Hélène de Zuylen de Nyevelt
• LGBT literature