Aug 15, 2019 anabasis by perse, st john in other projects wikimedia commons. Time measured by the year is no measure of our days. Perse was awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1960. Rene galand, saintjohn perse, poet of the universal. Mar 31, 2017 author of saintjohn perse, amers, anabase, exil, oeuvre poetique, chronique, eloges, and other poems, oiseaux. He studied at the universities of bordeaux and paris and in 1914 entered the diplomatic service. Alexis legers first published work was a french translation of daniel defoes robinson crusoe, and his early anabasis was translated into english by t. Anabasis is an expedition from a coastline up into the interior of a country. He was a major french diplomat from 1914 to 1940, after which he lived primarily. Saintlegerlesfeuilles, guadeloupe, france location of death. We hold no traffic with the least nor with the worst. He studied at the universities of bordeaux and paris. Sep 23, 1975 stjohn perse, the romantic poet who won the nobel prize for literature in 1960, died saturday at his villa in giens, on the french riviera. Anyone who would undertake to analyze a poem such as saint.
Furthermore, he provides an invaluable introduction and makes the poem more accessible by breaking it down to a part by part summary that lends the whole thing a very basic narrative shape. Anabase anabasis, the classical greek word for a journey up country was the first mature work by saint john perse, the poetic pseudonym of french diplomat alexis leger. Other literary forms some 440 pages of the pleiade edition of saintjohn perses. John pseudonym of marierene alexis saintleger leger 1887 perse, a french poet, won the nobel prize for literature in 1960. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Eliots translation sometimes strays from the strictest rendering of perses poem for the sake of dazzling english effect, but in the main it is faithful and serves well as a guide for readers who cant easily read perses original. Anabasis, a translation of saintjohn perses poem by t. His literary work was published partly under his own name, but chiefly under the pseudonyms st.
Saint john perse the french poet and diplomat, saint john perse 18871975 ranks among the greatest french poets of the 20th century. The greek word anabasis has also the more immediate meaning of. Saintjohn perse pseudonym of alexis leger, also alexis saintleger leger 31 may 188720 september 1975 was a french poet and diplomat who was. Saintjohn perse was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1960. The poet wrote mainly for himself, but after the manuscript was brought back to france by friends, anabase won. Saintjohn perse, pseudonym for alexis saintleger leger, came from an old bourguignon family which settled in the french antilles in the seventeenth century and returned to france at the end of the nineteenth century. Saintjohn perse, anabasis french studies oxford academic. Eliot with the help of perse in 1930, a revised translation coming out in 1949. Saint john perse, pseudonym for alexis saint leger leger, came from an old bourguignon family which settled in the french antilles in the seventeenth century and returned to france at the end of the nineteenth century. Born on a small familyowned island of guadeloupe, he became a member of the french diplomatic corps and was permanent secretary of. He was a major french diplomat from 1914 to 1940, after which he lived primarily in the united states until 1967. Siberian anabasis, a literary name for the czechoslovak legions transit through siberia during the russian civil war, in reference to the epic of xenophon.
John perse and saintjohn perse 1970, paperback, reprint at the best online prices at ebay. Anabasis, a 1930 translation of saint john perse s poem by t. Saintjohn perse pseudonym of alexis leger, also alexis saintleger leger 31 may 188720 september 1975 was a french poet and diplomat who was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1960 for the soaring flight and evocative imagery of his poetry. Saintjohn perse was the pen name of alexis leger 1887 1975, a french poet and diplomat who was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1960. The greek word anabasis means a march upcountry, from the coast to the interior. St john perse, the romantic poet who won the nobel prize for literature in 1960, died saturday at his villa in giens, on the french riviera. Perse had taken his theme from the historical anabasis composed by the greek philosopher and soldier xenophon, a disciple of socrates, who tells the story of how he led ten thousand greek mercenaries across desolate mesopotamia after losing a decisive battle against persian forces at babylon in bc. Perses masterpiece, anabase anabasis, was written while perse was in china and published in 1924. Eliot in 1930, a revised translation coming out in 1949.
His work is epic in nature, characterized by a cosmic vision and a lofty rhetoric. It is an epic poem which puzzled many critics and gave rise to the suggestion that it could be. Saintjohn perse, anabasis, french studies, volume xxxiii, issue suppl, 1 january 1980, pages 882883. It was written in the early 1920s during a stint in china, where leger represented the french foreign ministry. While in china, leger had written his first extended poem anabase, publishing it in 1924 under the pseudonym saintjohn perse, which he employed for the. Perse was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1960. Anabasis is the greek word for a journey into the interior. Because anabasis is poetry if it has to be called something. Perse studied law at bordeaux and, after private studies in political science, went into the diplomatic service in 1914.
About the author 1949 saint john perse managed to combine poetry with diplomacy most of his life. Anabasis by saintjohn perse but it is a wnabase for all time, one that contemplates the world, the migrant existence and the growth of civilization, as well as making sense of mans innate cravings, for adventure, for challenge, for conquest. Wikipedia via www, october 31, 20 saint john perse also saint leger leger. Anabase anabasis, the classical greek word for a journey up country was the first mature work by saintjohn perse, the poetic pseudonym of french diplomat. It was written in the early 1920s during a stint in china, where leger represented the french foreign minist. After various poems that reflect the impressions of his childhood, he wrote anabase anabasis, 1924, while in china. Nov 04, 2015 saintjohn perse topic recommended for you 4. Apr 22, 2020 mar 17, christopher rated it it was amazing. Saintjohn perse, french poet and diplomat who was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1960 for the soaring flight and evocative imagery of his poetry.
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