Description
Charles Pierre Baudelaire (1821-1867) was a poet, essayist, translator, and art critic. In this class, we will look at several poems from his most famous book, Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil), in Richard Howard’s translation. We will appreciate the enduring impact of Baudelaire’s poetry on the development of modern poetry in general and on English-language poetry in particular. After briefly discussing the book’s publication and translation history, the instructor will present a close reading and interpretation of a selection of Baudelaire’s poems in translation from a contemporary perspective. Questions and participation are welcome.
Barbara Thimm is a writer, translator, and educator. Her translations of selected poems by Timothy Donnelly and Mary Jo Bang were published by luxbooks in Germany. “A Discovery Behind the House,” the translation of a short story by Ror Wolf, appeared in Asymptote. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and two sons.
