Product Description
The poems in 'Rythmes pittoresques', first published in 1890, present not only a poet searching for a voice, but also a female poet searching for a voice while breaking down rules of both versification and gender-determined sources of expression.They went straight to the heart of the male-dominated poetry of the time and effectively threatened its existence.

Of the poets considered to be the first to write free-verse poetry in French - Marie Krysinska, Arthur Rimbaud, Jules Laforgue, Gustave Kahn - all have received critical recognition for their work.All, that is, except Marie Krysinska (1857-1908). Although it was quickly dismissed by critics simply because it was written by a female poet, Krysinska's poetry presents the creation of a new form of feminine expression as well as the persecution of the female artist viewed by her largely male peers, readership and competitors.

This is the first critical edition of 'Rythmes pittoresques' ever published.The volume includes a preface; notes presenting the poems' prior publications in literary reviews; a biographical chronology of Krysinska's life; a complete primary and secondary biography; reviews of the collection, documenting the poems' reception at the time of their publication.

This is the first volume in a new series, 'Exeter Textes Littéraires', published under the general editorship of David Cowling of University of Exeter.'Exeter Textes Littéraires' is dedicated to making available editions of little-known or neglected French literary texts.The series intends to publish texts from all historical periods and all traditions of writing in French; it is expected that some emphasis on twentieth-century texts and documents will become apparent as the new collection develops.Editions are normally in French to ensure the widest readership, and are underpinned by the highest editorial standards. ... Read more