Sully Prudhomme (16 March 1839 – 6 September 1907) was a French poet and essayist. He was the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901.
Life and Career
He was born on 16 March 1839, in Paris, France. He received a traditional education, attending the Lycée Bonaparte in Paris, which is now known as the Lycée Henri-IV. He studied classical languages and literature, including Latin, Greek, and French literature.
After completing his secondary education, Prudhomme went on to study law at the University of Paris, but he did not complete his degree. He then began working as a clerk in a government office, a job he held for many years while pursuing his writing.
Despite not having a formal degree in literature, Prudhomme was well-read and self-taught in the art of poetry. He was a frequent visitor to the Bibliothèque nationale de France, where he read extensively in French and other literature.
Prudhomme is one of the founders of the Symbolist movement in poetry, which emphasized the use of symbols and suggested rather than explicit meaning.
His poetry has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be read and studied today. His work has been praised for its musicality, sensitivity, and introspection, as well as its exploration of themes such as love, nature, and the human condition.
His poetic style was heavily influenced by the works of the Romantic poets, particularly Victor Hugo, as well as by the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer.
He also wrote essays on aesthetics and philosophy, which helped to shape the intellectual discourse of his time.
He died on 6 September 1907, in France.
Award
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901, becoming the first person to receive this honor.