Remy de Gourmont

Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915) was a French Symbolist poet, essayist, and critic who made important contributions to French literature in the fin de siècle. Gourmont began his writing career as a poet connected to the Symbolist movement after being born in Bazoches-au-Houlme, France, on April 4, 1858. Poetry, essays, and literary criticism were among the genres that Gourmont wrote in. He was well-known in the Parisian literary community and wrote for prestigious publications including "Mercure de...See more

Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915) was a French Symbolist poet, essayist, and critic who made important contributions to French literature in the fin de siècle. Gourmont began his writing career as a poet connected to the Symbolist movement after being born in Bazoches-au-Houlme, France, on April 4, 1858. Poetry, essays, and literary criticism were among the genres that Gourmont wrote in. He was well-known in the Parisian literary community and wrote for prestigious publications including "Mercure de France," where he was the chief literary critic. His essay collection "Decadence and Other Essays on the Culture of Ideas" (1899) examined the idea of decadence while offering important perspectives on the intellectual and cultural changes of the late 19th century. Gourmont's writings frequently demonstrated his curiosity about the intricacies of modernity, the dynamic character of beauty, and the influence of novel concepts on literature and the arts. Remy de Gourmont stood out as a pivotal character in the literary and philosophical debates of his century thanks to his deep intellect and poetic eloquence. See less