Pierre Louÿs
Pierre Louÿs was a Belgian-born poet and novelist, born Pierre-Félix Louis in 1870, who became an influential literary figure in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His family moved frequently due to the upheaval caused by the German army during his childhood, spending time in Paris and Normandy before settling in Belgium. Louÿs received a solid education, attending prestigious schools in Paris, where he developed a passion for literature inspired by contemporary French writers. He began his literary career publishing in small magazines and founded the short-lived Potache-revue in 1889. His travels across Europe, including significant experiences in Spain, Algeria, and Egypt, greatly influenced his work, leading to the creation of notable pieces such as "L'Effloraison" and the novel "La Femme et le pantin." Louÿs's poetry often explored erotic themes, exemplified in collections like "Astarte" and "Les Chansons secrètes de Bilitis," the latter addressing lesbian love. Despite the controversial nature of some of his works, Louÿs was generally well-regarded for his contributions to literature. He passed away in Paris on June 4, 1925.
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Pierre Louÿs
Poet
- Born: December 10, 1870
- Birthplace: Ghent, Belgium
- Died: June 4, 1925
- Place of death: Paris, France
Biography
Pierre Louÿs was born Pierre-Félix Louis in Ghent, Belgium in 1870. During the late 1800’s, his family fled from place to place in an attempt to stay ahead of the German army. The family spent some time in Paris and Normandy before settling in Belgium, Louÿs’s birthplace.
In 1882, Louÿs entered the Ecole Alsacienne in Paris, studying there until 1888, when he transferred to the Janson-de- Sailly school to complete his studies. He was generally regarded as a good student and was greatly influenced by the French writers of the time. His first writing was published in small circulation French magazines. In 1889, he founded the Potache- revue. This magazine did not last long, but he edited and contributed to similar publications, including Conque, and Centaure.
Louÿs’s first poem, “L’Effloraison,” was published in 1890. He traveled throughout Europe in the 1890’s, and his trip to Spain inspired him to write his novel La Femme et le pantin (1898; Woman and Puppet, 1908). He also traveled to Algeria and Egypt during this time. His first collection of poems, Astarte, was published in 1891. Louÿs was known to frequently visit prostitutes, and some of his poems have erotic themes. His second poetry collection, Les Chansons secrètes de Bilitis, et autres poèmes libertins (1894; The Songs of Bilitis, 1904), covered topics such as lesbian love. Although his novels and poems were rather controversial for their time, Louÿs’s work, for the most part, was generally well regarded, especially his novel Aphrodite (1896; Aphrodite: A Novel of Ancient Manners, 1900. Louÿs died in Paris on June 4, 1925.