André Chénier (30 October, 1762 – 25 July, 1794) was a French poet associated with the French Revolution.
“Chenier” by Unknown. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.
- Chénier was born in Galata district of Constantinople. Today it is the Karaköy neighborhood of Istanbul.
- His middle name was Marie.
- When he was three, the family returned to France.
- In college, Chénier distinguished himself as an excellent translator of the classics.
- Umberto Giordon worte an opera about the poets life, it was called, appropriately enough “André Chénier”.
- Chénier left to London to be a secretary of the French embassador, but he was unhappy in London. Upon returning to France at the midst of the revolution (which he believed was already over).
- Even though Chénier’s political views were moderated, his tactics and prose were aggressive.
- Chénier escaped the September Massacres in Paris by staying with relatives in Normandy.
- Only two works of Chénier were published during his lifetime, he got his reputation posthumously.
- On 25 July, 1794, Chénier was guillotined for “crimes against the state” (conspiracy). He was 31 years old.
Zohar – Man of la Book
