Remy de Gourmont French writer, essayist, art critic Date of Birth: 04.04.1858 Country: France

1. Life and Education
2. Literary Career
3. Circle and Influences
4. Controversies and Setbacks
5. Ill Health and Isolation
6. Late Love and Final Years
7. Literary Legacy
8. International Impact

Life and Education

Rémy de Gourmont was a renowned French writer, essayist, and art critic born into an aristocratic family. One of its branches had settled in Paris since the 16th century and was involved in publishing and bookselling.

Literary Career

Gourmont excelled in high school and studied law in Caen. In 1879, he moved to Paris and worked at the National Library, contributing to magazines and publishing scholarly books on historical topics.

Circle and Influences

From 1886, Gourmont shared a passionate relationship with Berta de Courrier, a prominent demi-mondaine who became his muse. He depicted her in his writings and engaged in a fervent correspondence. Gourmont established friendships with Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, Joris-Karl Huysmans, and Stéphane Mallarmé.

Controversies and Setbacks

Gourmont became a co-founder of the magazine and publishing house Mercure de France. However, his anti-nationalist article "Jouets Patriotiques" in 1891, expressing sympathy for German culture, sparked controversy and led to his dismissal from the National Library. The subsequent Dreyfus Affair further closed doors to him in the literary world.

Ill Health and Isolation

Diagnosed with lupus, which disfigured his appearance, Gourmont secluded himself in his apartment, venturing out only to visit the Mercure de France office and an annual trip to Coutances. Books and writing became his sole companions.

Late Love and Final Years

In 1910, Gourmont met Natalie Barney and fell deeply in love. He published "Lettres à l'Amazone" (1914) dedicated to her. Together, they made their only trip outside Paris, a tour of Normandy. However, Gourmont's health deteriorated, and the outbreak of World War I dealt the final blow. Most of his friends went to war, and Mercure de France shut down for a year. Gourmont succumbed to a brain hemorrhage in 1915 and was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Literary Legacy

Gourmont's vast literary output included poetry, novels, novellas, dramas, essays, literary criticism, and art chronicles. His most famous work, "Le Livre des Masques" (1898), featured literary portraits of symbolist figures and became a seminal text.

International Impact

Gourmont's aphorisms and epigrams gained widespread recognition, and his opinions on contemporary art held significant influence. His impact extended beyond France to England, Spain, and Russia, shaping the literary and artistic landscape of the Belle Époque.