Valery Larbaud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valery Larbaud
|
|
|---|---|
Larbaud, c.1900
|
|
| Born | 29 August 1881 Vichy, France |
| Died | 2 February 1957 (aged 75) Vichy, France |
| Occupation | Writer, translator, critic |
| Notable works | Fermina Márquez |
Valery Larbaud (born August 29, 1881, died February 2, 1957) was a famous French writer and poet. He was also known for translating important books into French.
Contents
About Valery Larbaud
Valery Larbaud was born in Vichy, France. He was the only child of a pharmacist. His father passed away when Valery was only eight years old. After that, his mother and aunt raised him.
His family was quite wealthy. His father owned the Vichy Saint-Yorre mineral water springs. This meant Valery had a comfortable life. He loved to travel all over Europe in style. He often took trips on fancy ships and even the famous Orient Express train. He enjoyed visiting spas, which are places with special mineral water, often for health reasons.
His Early Works
In 1908, Valery Larbaud published a book of poems called Poèmes par un riche amateur. A famous writer named Octave Mirbeau thought it was so good that he voted for it to win the prix Goncourt. This is a very important French literary award.
Three years later, in 1911, Larbaud released his novel Fermina Márquez. This story was inspired by his time as a student at Sainte-Barbe-des-Champs. This book also received some votes for the prix Goncourt. Even though it didn't win, it is still seen as a classic in French literature. It is one of his most well-known books.
A Master of Languages
Valery Larbaud was very talented with languages. He could speak six different languages, including English, Italian, and Spanish. This skill was very useful for his work.
He helped bring many important English-language writers to France. He translated and helped make popular the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Walt Whitman, and Samuel Butler. He also worked on the translation of James Joyce's famous novel, Ulysses. Auguste Morel did the main translation, but Larbaud guided the whole project from 1924 to 1929.
Later Life and Recognition
Valery Larbaud had many famous friends. Some of them were André Gide, Léon-Paul Fargue, and Jean Aubry. Jean Aubry later wrote a book about Larbaud's life.
In 1935, Valery Larbaud became very ill. He had a stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak clearly. Because of his illness, he had to sell his home and his huge collection of 15,000 books.
Even with his health problems, he still received many honors for his writing. In 1952, he was given the Grand prix national des Lettres. This is a very high award for writers in France.
After his death, a special award was created in his honor. The prix Valery Larbaud started in 1967. It is given every year to promote new authors. Famous winners include J.M.G. Le Clézio, Emmanuel Carrère, and Jean Rolin.
Valery Larbaud's Books
Here are some of the books Valery Larbaud wrote:
- Poèmes par un riche amateur (1908) – published under the name A.O. Barnabooth.
- Fermina Márquez (1911)
- A.O. Barnabooth (1913)
- Enfantines (1918)
- Beauté, mon beau souci (1920)
- Amants, heureux amants (1923)
- Mon plus secret conseil... (1923)
- Ce Vice impuni, la lecture : domaine anglais (1925)
- Jaune bleu blanc (1927)
- Aux couleurs de Rome (1938)
- Ce Vice impuni, la lecture : domaine français (1941)
- Sous l'invocation de saint Jérôme (1946)
- Chez Chesterton
- Ode à une blanchisseuse
See also
In Spanish: Valery Larbaud para niños
