Louise Colet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise Colet
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| Born | Louise Révoil de Servannes 15 August 1810 Aix-en-Provence, France |
| Died | 9 March 1876 (aged 65) Paris |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Language | French |
| Period | 1836–1866 |
| Spouse | Hippolyte-Raymond Colet |
| Children | Henriette |
Louise Colet (born Louise Revoil de Servannes) was a French poet and writer. She was born on August 15, 1810, and passed away on March 9, 1876. She was known for her poetry and her connections with other famous writers of her time.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to Paris
Louise Colet was born in Aix-en-Provence, a city in France. When she was in her twenties, she married Hippolyte Colet. He was a musician and a teacher. Louise wanted to live in Paris, the capital city, and her marriage helped her move there.
Starting a Writing Career
Once in Paris, Louise Colet started sending her writings to publishers. She quickly gained recognition for her talent. She won a prize of two thousand francs from the Académie française. This is a very important French group that protects the French language and literature. She won four prizes from them in total!
Louise also hosted a "salon" at her home. A salon was a special gathering where writers, artists, and thinkers would meet. They would talk about ideas and share their work. Many famous writers, like Victor Hugo, attended her salon.
Life as a Writer
Louise Colet had a daughter named Henriette. After her husband passed away, Louise supported herself and her daughter through her writing. She worked hard to make a living from her poems and stories.
Her brother, Pierre Révoil, was a painter. Louise Colet lived and worked in Paris for most of her life, where she also passed away.
Literary Connections and Works
Louise Colet had an important connection with another famous French writer, Gustave Flaubert. They exchanged many letters, especially between 1851 and 1855. These letters are very valuable today. They tell us a lot about how Flaubert wrote his famous novel, Madame Bovary.
In their letters, Flaubert also gave Louise his thoughts on her poems. He would offer advice and critical comments. Their discussions showed how different their writing styles were. Louise was a "Romanticist," meaning she wrote with a lot of emotion. Flaubert believed writers should be more objective and not show too much personal feeling.
Lui and Other Writings
In 1859, Louise Colet wrote a novel called Lui. This book was a fictional story, but it was based on her own experiences and feelings about her relationships with other writers, including Flaubert. However, Lui is not as well-known today as Flaubert's Madame Bovary.
Louise Colet wrote many other works, including poems and stories. She was a productive writer throughout her life.
Selected Works
- Fleurs du midi (1836)
- Penserosa (1839)
- La Jeunesse de Goethe (1839)
- Les Funérailles de Napoléon (1840)
- La Jeunesse de Mirabeau (1841)
- Les Coeurs brisés (1843)
- Lui (1859)
- Enfances Célèbres (1865)
