The Flowers of Evil & Paris Spleen

by Charles Baudelaire

Book Overview

"I am moved...by the mastery of both languages, plus the total absorption of the spirit of Baudelaire.... I recognize Baudelaire's voice in these translations."--Anna Balakian. Includes an incisive introduction to Baudelaire's life, work and influence on modern poetry.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0918526876
• ISBN13: 9780918526878
• Release Date: December 1991
• Publisher: BOA Editions
• Length: 489 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Poetry.

Granted that much is always lost in any translation, much is also gained regarding these English renditions of one of the greatest poets our transient existence is likely to witness. Crosby has presented Baudelaire's verses, preserving the poet's lyricism & profound wit as close to the originals as has yet been possible. The pros/cons of translations are that each one shows a disparate shade of a poet's versatility and brilliance, just as some nuances are forlorn or perverted by the interpretations and misrepresentations of the translator. But just as Molière found his Wilbur, Baudelaire has his Crosby.

The Spirit of CB

Dr. Crosby has done the impossible. He has translated Baudelaire while somehow maintaining the sound, the music of the great man. [...] For those who wish to know the soul and sound of CB this is your book!!!

Stunning

I have read the purist's dismissal of this work. It is, they complain, not a literal translation. There are many literal, word-for-word translations of Baudelaire. But there is only one translation in which the author attempts and most often succeeds in capturing the sound and spirit of the poet, and this is this one. Poetry is not just words. What makes poetry different from prose is the use of word-sound to carry meaning. Crosby captures the music of Baudelair's verse. It is the only translation to do so.