The Muse of the Violets

Poems

By Renee Vivien

1982

First Published

4.28

Average Rating

Number of Pages

2H24M

Audio Length

Writing in a rigid French verse form (including sonnets, hendecasyllabic verse, and prose poetry), Vivien was virtually unknown in the US prior to Naiad’s translations of her works into English. Comprising eighteen poems inspired largely her tempestuous relationship with fellow lesbian poet Natalie Barney, as well as her unrequited passion for her childhood friend, Violet Shillito, who would remain a fixture in her work until her premature death at the age of 32. Founded by Barbara Grier, Naiad’s focus was preserving out-of-print lesbian classics and publishing the work of iconic lesbian feminist writers. Translated by Margaret Porter and Catherine Kroger, with an introduction by French writer Louise Faure-Favier, excerpted from her biography of Vivien.

Avg Rating

4.28

Number of Ratings

5 STARS

48%

4 STARS

33%

3 STARS

17%

2 STARS

1 STARS

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Author

Renee Vivien

Author · 8 books

Renée Vivien, born Pauline Mary Tarn, was a British poet who wrote in the French language. She took to heart all the mannerisms of Symbolism, as one of the last poets to claim allegiance to the school. Her compositions include sonnets, hendecasyllabic verse, and prose poetry. Renée's poetry and novels show several sources of inspiration: Natalie Barney, Violet Shilleto, Pierre Louys, and Sappho. Natalie inspired retellings of their relationship through prose and poem. Violet Shilleto, Renée's childhood friend and love who died in 1901, appears in Renée's work through repeated images of violets and the color purple. Pierre Louys' sensual "Songs of Bilitis" and Sappho's evocative poems about women-love influenced Renée's poetic style. Sappho, in particular, became an icon for Renée—she translated the work of Sappho into modern French, and even traveled with Natalie to Lesbos in an attempt to revive a women's artist colony on the island.