Marceline Desbordes-Valmore

Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (June 20, 1786 - July 23, 1859) was a French poet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She was born in Douai. Following the French Revolution and the ruin of her family, they emigrated to Guadeloupe, whereupon Marceline's mother died of yellow fever. Actress and singer, she would later appear in Douai, Rouen, Paris 'Op?ra-Comique', 'Th??tre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where she notably played Rosine in the Barber of Seville of Beaumarchais. She retired from the stage in 1823.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She lost her five-year old child in 1816, born from her first marriage. She would remarry in 1817 with the actor Prosper Lanchantin-Valmore, and thence published her first poetic work in 1819 ?l?gies et Romances, and then in 1825, ?l?gies et po?sie nouvelles.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite a somewhat interrupted education, she is known for a compulsive spontaneity in her verses, delicate arrangements of musical sounds and rhythm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a lifetime of close deaths and various instances of bad luck (she lost four children). She died in Paris

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

June 20: June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining....

1786: 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar)....

July 23: July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining....