Edmond Jabes French poet Date of Birth: 16.04.1912 Country: France

1. Early Life and Influences
2. Exile and French Citizenship
3. Philosophy of Letter and Book
4. Literary Collaborations and Influences
5. Recognition and Legacy

Early Life and Influences

Edmund Jabès was born into a French-speaking Jewish family in Cairo, Egypt. He collaborated with surrealist poet Georges Henein to establish the publishing house La Part du sable in Cairo.

Exile and French Citizenship

After the Suez Crisis in 1956, Jabès relocated to Paris, where he acquired French citizenship in 1967. His work often centered on the fate of the Jewish people throughout history, particularly the tragedy of exile and the Holocaust.

Philosophy of Letter and Book

Jabès developed a unique philosophy of the letter and the Book, synthesizing traditions of rabbinism and Kabbalah. He sought to find language that could articulate the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust.

Literary Collaborations and Influences

Jabès maintained close relationships with many prominent intellectuals of his time, including Max Jacob, Paul Éluard, André Gide, Michel Leiris, Emmanuel Lévinas, and Paul Celan. His writings greatly influenced thinkers such as Maurice Blanchot and Jacques Derrida.

Recognition and Legacy

Jabès's work received critical acclaim from renowned authors including Albert Camus, Jules Supervielle, René Char, and Paul Auster. He was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, and his writings continue to be studied and admired for their profound exploration of exile, memory, and language.