Valéry is a symbol of infinite dexterities but, at the same time, of infinite scruples.

Jorge Luis Borges, Labyrinths

Paul Valery

Paul Valery (1871–1945) was a French poet and philosopher. Born in Herault, on the coast of the Mediterranean, Valery studied law, then moved to Paris, where he met his mentor, Stephen Mallarmé. In 1931, he founded the Collège International de Cannes which still admits students. Due in part to the death of Mallarmé, Valery entered a period of silence where he wrote no poetry for nearly twenty years, finally breaking his silence with La Jeune Parque (1917) his most famous piece.

cover image of the book Selected Writings Of Paul Valery

Selected Writings Of Paul Valery

This selection from representative works of the great French poet-philosopher is based on the Paris Morceaux Choisis volume, which was assembled by Valery himself. It begins with the poetry (French and English en face), including such masterpieces as “Le Cimetiêre Marin” and portions of “La Jeune Parque”; then ranges through Valery’s work in fields as various as architecture, logic, the dance, literature, philosophy, and painting. It concludes with excerpts from his creative writings such as Monsieur Teste and the drama Man Faust. The list of translators for this volume is distinguished. Among them are Lionel Abel, Léonie Adams, Malcolm Cowley, James Kirkup, C. Day Lewis, Jackson Mathews, Louise Varèse, and Vernon Watkins.

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Valéry is a symbol of infinite dexterities but, at the same time, of infinite scruples.

Jorge Luis Borges, Labyrinths
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