Théophile Gautier

Pierre Jules Th?ophile Gautier (August 31, 1811 – October 23,1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist and literary critic.

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He was born in Tarbes in the Hautes-Pyr?n?es d?partement, in the southwestern region of France, and he went to Paris as a small child. He had an idea of becoming a painter, but his inclinations turned him in the direction of poetry, and these ambitions were furthered on meeting Victor Hugo. He also received help from Honor? de Balzac, who gave him work at the Chronique de Paris.

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Gautier belonged, along with the poet Charles Baudelaire and Dr. Jacques-Joseph Moreau, and many other literary and intellectual figures of the day, to a club dedicated to experimenting with drugs, principally hashish, called the Club des Hashischins. In an article published in Revue des Deux Mondes in 1846, Gautier detailed their experiments.

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He visited Spain in 1840 in the wake of the civil war then being waged. He made a living from journalism although he found the work 'humiliating', seeking and finding escape in travel and poetry. He is remembered for the quote: "Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality."

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He was awarded a membership in the L?gion d'honneur for his work on the committee that chose the design for the tomb of Napoleon.

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Theophile Gautier died in 1872 and was interred in the Cimeti?re de Montmartre, Paris.

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While he was a prolific poet, travel writer, journalist and wrote several rather well-recieved ballets his fame today is based mostly on his fantastic short stories, such as "The Dead in Love."

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August 31: August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining, as the final day of August....

1811: 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

October 23: October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining....

Théophile Gautier related Images and Photos (experimental)

Beurre Gautier

Beurre Gautier

Cognac Gautier Freres

Marabout and Procession: Tlemcen engraved by Henri Theophile Hildibrand