Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle

Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle (French pronunciation: [ʃaʁl maʁi ʁəne ləkɔ̃t də lil]) (22 October 1818 – 17 July 1894) was a French poet of the Parnassian movement. Leconte de Lisle was born on the island of Réunion. His father, an army surgeon, who brought him up with great severity, sent him to travel in the East Indies with a view to preparing him for a commercial life. After this voyage he went to Rennes to complete his education, studying especially Greek, Italian and history. He returned once or twice to Réunion, but in 1846 settled definitely in Paris. His first volume, La Venus de Milo, attracted to him a number of friends many of whom were passionately devoted to classical literature. In 1873 he was made assistant...