Plot Summary

Baudelaire

Joanna Richardson
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Baudelaire

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1964

Book Brief

Joanna Richardson

Baudelaire

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1964
Book Details
Pages

602

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

France • 19th Century

Publication Year

1964

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Baudelaire by Joanna Richardson is a 1994 biography exploring the turbulent life of French poet Charles Baudelaire, author of Les fleurs du mal. Using extensive research, Richardson details Baudelaire's Oedipal relationship with his mother, his battles with addiction, and his rebellion against bourgeois values, providing insights into his financial troubles, complex personal relationships, and literary impact.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Dark

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.0

25 ratings

68%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

0%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Baudelaire by Joanna Richardson offers an insightful and detailed exploration of the poet's tumultuous life and work. Critics praise Richardson's thorough research and engaging narrative. However, some find the analysis occasionally dense and challenging to follow. Overall, it's celebrated for its depth and contribution to Baudelaire scholarship.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Baudelaire?

A reader who enjoys Baudelaire by Joanna Richardson is likely passionate about 19th-century French literature, poetry, and biography. Fans of Richard Holmes's Rimbaud or Jean-Paul Sartre's Baudelaire will appreciate its detailed exploration of Baudelaire's complex life and rich cultural context.

4.0

25 ratings

68%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

0%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

602

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

France • 19th Century

Publication Year

1964

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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