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Ejen PottierSongwriter, author of "Internationale"
Date of Birth: 04.10.1816
Country:  France |
Content:
- Eugene Pottier: A Life Devoted to Poetry and Revolution
- A Revolutionary Transformation
- The International Anthem
- Return to France
Eugene Pottier: A Life Devoted to Poetry and Revolution
Eugene Pottier, a poet and songwriter, was born on October 4, 1816, in Paris. He passed away on November 6, 1887, in the same city. Pottier began his working life at an early age and wrote his first poems during the July Revolution of 1830. In 1830, his collection of songs titled "Young Muse" was published, earning favorable reviews from P.J. Beranger. The poet experienced a creative upsurge during the Revolution of 1848.
A Revolutionary Transformation
The most significant period in Pottier's life and work began during the Paris Commune era in 1871. He participated in the defense of Paris against German troops and became a member of the Central Committee of the National Guard. During this time, he transitioned from the ideals of utopian socialism to a revolutionary materialistic worldview. He transformed from a singer of the oppressed poor into a poet of the revolutionary proletariat.
The International Anthem
As one of the organizers of the Commune, Pottier fought on the barricades. After its defeat, he fled to Great Britain and later to the United States. In June 1871, while in the Parisian underground, Pottier wrote "The Internationale," which became the international anthem of the revolutionary working class. In America, he created three poems: "Workers of America to the Workers of France" (1876, in English); "The Paris Commune" (1877); and "The Workers' Party" (written in 1878, published in 1898).
Return to France
In 1880, Pottier returned to France and joined the Workers' Party. In 1884, he published the collections "Socio-economic Verses and Socialist Revolutionary Songs" and "Who Is Insane?" In 1887, his compilation "Revolutionary Songs" was published, which included his best songs and poems.
