150 Years Ago Today
A shot in the dark
Hello everyone
Today is an especially significant and poignant day for French literature, and for me personally. It is Marcel Proust’s birthday, the master of memory, and the day I received the medal of Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Republic, an honor shared with William Burroughs and Susan Sontag. This meant a great deal to me, especially on such an auspicious day.
Also, 150 years ago today, on July 10, 1873, as Proust’s family was celebrating the third birthday of future writer of In Search of Lost Time, a highly charged drama was unfolding in a Brussels Hotel. The poet Paul Verlaine, intoxicated and desperate, shot his beloved companion, Arthur Rimbaud, in the wrist with a small revolver. The unfortunate occurrence resulted in 18 months imprisonment for Verlaine, and a frenzied, yet focused literary outpouring from Rimbaud. In the wake of emotional and physical turmoil he produced an undeniable masterpiece- A Season in Hell.
On our Smithposium, we are exploring many aspects of the life and work of Rimbaud. I hope you will subscribe and join us. Below are some pictures and good wishes for a peaceful, if not nostalgic evening.
For anyone wondering whether to subscribe or not, Patti's Smithposiums on Rimbaud have been exhilarating, informative and mind-blowing. She has dedicated herself to them with insight, passion and an undeniable love for the subject. These are the best series of lectures I've ever attended. And, at the same time, it's like having a talk with a long-time friend. I've never experienced anything like them from an artist of her stature.
If anyone deserves to be honoured for their contribution to culture and the arts, it's you, Patti. Have a peaceful evening yourself. Maybe I should spend mine listening to Blood on the Tracks while dipping into Proust.
Thank you for all the interesting, poignant and informative comments. I love when you explain things to one another. That's a beautiful thing.