Chénier, André

(1762-1794)

   poet

   Regarded as one of the most important French classical poets and as a forerunner of the romantics, André Chénier was born in Constantinople, where his father was serving as French consul general. In the salon of his mother, who was of Greek origin, he became absorbed with Hellenic culture and also was inspired by the works of the Enlightenment philosophers. At first a poet of the liberal revolution of 1789, he became outraged by the excesses of the terror and, as his writings antagonized max-imilien Robespierre, he was guillotined. His work (posthumous, 1819) caused a sensation among the romantic youths of the period who saw in it "a new poety, about to be born" (victor hugo). In L'Invention, Chénier defends his poetic art, while in Idylles ou Bucoliques, he seeks to rediscover the physical beauty and musicality of the works of antiquity. In two long poems, "L'Hermès" and "L'Amérique," epics of science and progress, he turns to more modern inspirations. A lyrical poet, in Élegées and Pièces à Fanny, he sang of love and themes dear to the poets of the 18th century. Finally, in Iambes, Chénier expresses, in strong and incisive satire, his distain and hatred of the political excesses of the day.