Happy Birthday, Charles Baudelaire!

Charles Baudelaire (April 9, 1821 - August 31, 1867) was a French poet, essayist, and art critic. He also produced the first translation of Edgar Allen Poe into French, introducing this notable American author to France. Baudelaire is best know for his poetry, however, and his most memorable work appeared in 1857, Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil). Baudelaire was known for his combination of classic French poetry forms and meter with modern, everyday subjects. Many were critical of Baudelaire's controversial verse although it is generally granted that this poet helped pave the way for even more radical -- and liberating -- experimentation with French poetry.

You can find Baudelaire's most famous work, The Flowers of Evil, at CDPL.