Andre Chenier

André Chénier was a French poet of Greek and Franco-Levantine origin, who was associated with the events of the French Revolution. He was born in Constantinople, where his father was a French consul, and moved to France with his family when he was three years old. He studied at the Collège de Navarre in Paris, where he distinguished himself as a verse-translator from the classics. He also traveled to Italy, where he was inspired by the ancient culture and landscape. He wrote mostly idylls and elegies, imitating the Greek poets, but also experimented with didactic and philosophical verse. He also became involved in political journalism, supporting the ideals of the Revolution and criticizing the excesses of the Reign of Terror. He was arrested by mistake in 1794 and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Tribunal. He spent his last months in prison, where he composed some of his most famous poems, such as "La Jeune Captive" and "La Jeune Tarentine". He was guillotined on July 25, 1794, just three days before the fall of Robespierre. His work was scarcely published until 25 years after his death, when it was acclaimed as a precursor of the Romantic movement. His poetry is characterized by its sensuality, emotion, and individualism, as well as its classical references and forms. He is considered one of the greatest French poets of the 18th century.