French Literature Reviews - 2026

V. Castiglione, Emile Verhaeren - Modernism and Identity in the Poetic Work
Poetry and Poetics

V. Castiglione, Emile Verhaeren - Modernism and Identity in the Poetic Work

Paris: L'Harmattan, coll. "Critiques littéraires", 122 p.

• €12.50 (PDF version: €9.38)
• EAN13: 9782296562028

Publisher's Overview:

Between 1909 and 1915, Emile Verhaeren was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Through a thematic, cultural, and generic journey, this book offers a critical rereading of the collections that earned him the admiration and friendship not only of the official cultural establishment, but also of the early avant-gardes. This apparent paradox conceals the richness and singularity of a poetry that heralds and celebrates the aspirations of an entire generation.

Vera Castiglione

Vera Castiglione is a researcher in French and comparative literature and currently teaches at the University of Bristol. Her research focuses on French and European modernism, the historical avant-garde, and genre theory.

This study by Vera Castiglione, a researcher in French and comparative literature who teaches at the University of Bristol, focuses on French and European modernism, the historical avant-garde, and genre theory. The work examines the poetry of Emile Verhaeren, who was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize in Literature between 1909 and 1915, earning the admiration and friendship of both the official cultural establishment and early avant-gardes.

Readers interested in French poetry, the historical avant-garde, and early twentieth-century literary culture may find this study relevant. The research connects with broader scholarly discussions surrounding modernism, identity formation, and the reception of writers by emerging artistic movements during a period of profound cultural change across Europe.