The Complete Verse

Les Fleurs du mal (1861) was the first great modern work of poetry and one of the few books of poems to become an international bestseller. This edition contains all of Baudelaire's poetry in verse with Francis Scarfe's scrupulous and inventive prose translations at the foot of the pages. Together with his detailed and authoritative introduction, this presentation makes an ideal edition both for the student and for the general reader who wishes to tackle the French original with a reliable prose guide at hand. The companion volume, Paris Blues, contains Baudelaire's prose poems ( Le Spleen de Paris' or Petits Po mes en prose') and the short novel La Fanfarlo (1847), a charming extravaganza written in his early twenties. Francis Scarfe (1911-1986) was a lecturer in French poetry at Glasgow University before and again after World War II. From 1959 to 1978, he was director of the British Institute in Paris. For his work on Baudelaire he was awarded the Prix de L' le Saint-Louis (1966). On retirement he was made a Chevalier de la L gion d'honneur. He was the author of four collections of poetry, a verse translation of selected fables of La Fontaine, and the critical works Auden and After and Andr Ch nier, His Life and Work.

Charles Baudelaire Baudelaire (1821-1867) was France’s most influential nineteenth-century poet. He was also a brilliant critic. A controversial figure in his lifetime, his collection of poems Les Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil) is regarded as a masterpiece. Francis Scarfe Francis Scarfe (1911-1986) was a lecturer in French poetry at Glasgow University before and again after World War II. From 1959 to 1978, he was director of the British Institute. In recognition of his contribution to Anglo-French cultural relations he was made a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (1962), and for his work on Baudelaire he was awarded the Prix de L’Ile Saint-Louis (1966); on his retirement in 1978 he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. He was the author of four collections of poetry and of the critical works Auden and After and André Chénier, His Life and Work.