Louÿs, Pierre, 1870-1925

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1870-12-10
Death 1925-06-06
French,
French, Latin,

Biographical notes:

French novelist and poet.

From the description of Pierre Louÿs Papers, 1839-1934 (bulk 1891-1919). (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRC); University of Texas at Austin). WorldCat record id: 85242183

Pierre Louys (1870-1925) was a French poet and writer known for his erotic and sensual themes, particular lesbian. He was good friends with André Gide and Oscar Wilde.

From the guide to the Pierre Louys Manuscripts, unknown, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Pierre Louys was a French writer of the Parnassian school.

From the guide to the Pierre Louys papers, 1890-1919 and undated., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

French poet and novelist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to an unidentified lady, [n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270590976

Pierre Louÿs, born December 10, 1870 in Ghent, Belgium, spent most of his life and career in France. A writer and poet, famous for his treatment of lesbian and Classical themes, some of Louÿs' most famous works include Les chansons de Bilitis and Aphrodite (moeurs antiques).

From the description of Pierre Louÿs collection, 1889-1912. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 505834088

Pierre Louÿs (1870-1925) was a French poet and writer.

From the guide to the Pierre Louÿs Sonnet, 1890, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)

French author.

From the description of Contes pour les enfants. Mademoiselle Mouche : 1 rue Grétry : autograph manuscript signed, [n.d.] / Pierre Louÿs. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270592894

Pierre Louÿs was a French writer of the Parnassian school.

From the description of Papers, 1890-1919 and undated. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 81802925

Pierre-Philippe Louis, a French lawyer, and his wife, the former Claire Céline Maldan, had temporarily fled to Belgium from political turmoil in France when their second son, Pierre-Félix, was born December 10, 1870, in Ghent. Pierre-Félix became an excellent student at the École Alsacienne, where André Gide was in the class ahead of him. The two boys grew to be close friends and together founded Potache-revue in 1889. In 1890 Pierre expressed his passion for classical Greek culture by changing the spelling of his name to Louÿs (in French the name of the letter y means Greek i ) and pronouncing the final s to give it a Greek flavor.

Louÿs had another early literary friendship with the poet Paul Valéry, who was still unknown when he and Louÿs became acquainted. Both young men were members of the poet Stéphane Mallarmé's circle. For several years Louÿs was also a friend of Oscar Wilde, although they eventually quarelled, as did Louÿs and Gide. Another artist who formed an early friendship with Louÿs was the composer Claude Debussy.

Louÿs's first book was a collection of poems entitled Astarte (1891). In 1895 he published what is today his best-known work, Les chansons de Bilitis (1895), which exemplifies the type of eroticism that his work is noted for. La femme et le pantin (1898) is often considered his finest novel.

Women, including prostitutes, played a large role in Louÿs's life. He married Louise de Heredia in 1899, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1913. Among his mistresses was the dancer Claudine Roland, who died in 1920. In 1923 he married Claudine's half-sister, Aline Steenackers, the mother of his two children. A third child was born shortly after Louÿs's death on June 8, 1925.

From the guide to the Pierre Louÿs Papers TXRC06-A18., 1839-1934, (bulk 1891-1919), (The University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center)

French poet, novelist, and editor.

Born Pierre-Félix Louis, this erudite aesthete was called a "grand poète de l'amour et de la mort".

From the description of Pierre Louÿs papers, 1891-1894 & no date. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 606938925

Biography

Pierre Louÿs, born December 10, 1870 in Ghent, Belgium, spent most of his life and career in France. A writer and poet, famous for his treatment of lesbian and Classical themes, some of Louÿs' most famous works include Les chansons de Bilitis and Aphrodite (moeurs antiques).

From the guide to the Pierre Louÿs Collection, 1889-1912, (University of California, Los Angeles. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library)

Links to collections

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Subjects:

  • Aestheticism (Literature)
  • Authors, French
  • Authors, French
  • Authors, French
  • Critics
  • Decadence (Literary movement)
  • French literature
  • French literature
  • French poetry
  • French poetry
  • French poetry
  • Lesbians
  • Literature
  • Novelists, French
  • Poets, French
  • Tobacco use

Occupations:

  • Authors
  • Authors, French
  • Editors
  • Novelists, French
  • Poets
  • Poets, French

Places:

  • France (as recorded)
  • France (as recorded)
  • France (as recorded)