Poetry
Odes funambulesques
Not translated into English
Théodore de Banville · 1857
Synopsis
The collection brings together satirical poems that mock the society and celebrities of the day, critics, writers and artists, in an ironic, bounding tone. The poet mixes ancient mythology and contemporary Paris, and multiplies formal experiments, as a virtuoso. Beneath the appearance of light play, the social criticism remains biting.
Context
The collection appeared in 1857, without the author's name, at Alençon, from Poulet-Malassis and De Broise. The author had at first wanted to see in it only exercises in form, but the critics read satirical intentions into it, which he later acknowledged. He later published an edition accompanied by a commentary. Peter J. Edwards produced the critical edition in 1995, with variants and notes, in volume III of the complete poetic works.
Who it is for
Occasional poems, full of allusions to the personalities of the day; an annotated edition helps in grasping their targets.
Prizes and reception
The collection that established the author's reputation; Victor Hugo, its dedicatee, welcomed it warmly.
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