Gerard De Nerval

Date of Birth: May 22, 1808

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: January 26, 1855

Biography

Gérard de Nerval, born Gérard Labrunie, was a prominent French novelist, poet, and essayist of the 19th century. He was a key figure in the Romanticism movement. Born in Paris, Nerval was known for his imaginative and often surreal works that explored themes of dreams, madness, and the supernatural. He was a contemporary and close friend of other literary luminaries such as Alexandre Dumas and Théophile Gautier. Nerval’s life was marked by bouts of mental illness, which deeply influenced his writing. His most famous work, “Aurélia,” is a semi-autobiographical account that delves into his experiences with insanity. Despite his struggles, Nerval’s literary contributions have left a lasting impact on French literature, inspiring later writers such as Marcel Proust and André Breton.

5 Interesting Facts about Gerard De Nerval

1. Nerval was known for walking a pet lobster on a blue silk ribbon in the Palais-Royal in Paris, claiming it was an ideal pet because it “doesn’t bark and knows the secrets of the deep.”

2. He translated Goethe’s “Faust” into French when he was only 20 years old, earning praise for his work.

3. His novella “Sylvie” is considered one of the finest examples of French Romantic literature.

4. Nerval was a member of the literary group “Les Jeunes-France,” which included other notable writers like Théophile Gautier.

5. He was found hanged in a narrow street in Paris, and his death is often considered a suicide, though the exact circumstances remain a mystery.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gerard De Nerval

1. “Our dreams are a second life.”

2. “I am the other.”

3. “The first moments of sleep are the images of death; a hazy torpor grips our thoughts and it becomes impossible for us to determine the precise instant when the ‘I,’ under another form, continues the task of existence.”

4. “Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature.”

5. “Dreams are real as long as they last. Can we say more of life?”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Gérard de Nerval did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime. His net worth was modest, as he often struggled with financial instability.