Charles Baudelaire

Arthur Symons's “Charles Baudelaire: A Study” offers a deep dive into the life, works, and complex personality of Charles Baudelaire, positioning him as a pivotal figure in French literature and a profound influence on subsequent artists. Symons explores Baudelaire's genius, not as a pure artist working through implication like Shakespeare, but as one who asserts his personal point of view with an infallible and impeccable vision. Baudelaire's method, according to Symons, is more about suggestion and divination, always striving for perfect and just work. This drive for perfection is coupled with a keen ability to characterize individuals, especially the non-artist, whom he often portrays with irony. Symons also places Baudelaire among other artists like Shelley, Blake, Poe, Swinburne, Rossetti, and Beardsley, all of whom faced charges of obscurity and harshness but who ultimately remained true to their unique visions.