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Charles Baudelaire
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Les Fleurs Du Mal Paperback – March 15, 2008

by Charles Baudelaire (Author), Richard Howard (Translator)
4.4 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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The bilingual, illustrated, and National Book Award-winning edition of Charles Baudelaire’s masterpiece. The complete French text is accompanied with an English translation by Richard Howard.

Charles Baudelaire’s 1857 masterwork was scandalous in its day for its portrayals of sex, same-sex love, death, the corrupting and oppressive power of the modern city and lost innocence, Les Fleurs Du Mal (The Flowers of Evil) remains powerful and relevant for our time.

In “Spleen et idéal,” Baudelaire dramatizes the erotic cycle of ecstacy and anguish―of sexual and romantic love. “Tableaux Parisiens” condemns the crushing effects of urban planning on a city’s soul and praises the city’s anti-heroes including the deranged and derelict. “Le Vin” centers on the search for oblivion in drink and drugs. The many kinds of love that lie outside traditional morality is the focus of “Fleurs du Mal” while rebellion is at the heart of “Révolte.”

The voice of Baudelaire lives in this award-winning edition that includes monotypes by artist, Michael Mazur. “Howard’s achievement is such that we can be confident that this Fleurs du Mal will long stand as definitive, a superb guide to France’s greatest poet.”―The Nation

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    David R. Godine, Publisher
  4. Publication date
    March 15, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.7 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780879234621
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0879234621
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Baudelaire revoiced...Howard's achievement is such that we can be confident that his Flowers of Evil will long stand as definitive, a superb guide to France's greatest poet." --The Nation

"Readers of English do not have to take Baudelaire on faith any longer. For the first time he is present among us, vivid and surprisingly intact, in these fine translations." --The New York Times Book Review

"A deft and patient new translation of Les Fleurs Du Mal...Howard, it seems to me, has done what he has set out to, has given us, in English and in verse, a Baudelaire both immediately recognizable and impressively varied...It is a considerable achievement." --The New York Review of Books

From the Back Cover

This translation of Baudelaire's magnum opus "¬‚¬" perhaps the most powerful and influential book of verse from the 19th century "¬‚¬" won the American Book Award for Translation. And the honor was well-deserved, for this is one of Richard Howard's greatest efforts. It's all here: a timeless translation, the complete French text, and Mazur's striking black and white monotypes in one elegant edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0879234628
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ David R. Godine, Publisher; First edition, second printing (March 15, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780879234621
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0879234621
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

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Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
101 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers appreciate the book's bilingual format and translations. The poetry receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how it takes readers on a wild ride of emotions, while another describes it as beautifully macabre.

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11 customers mention "Translation quality"9 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the translations and bilingual format of the book, with one customer specifically noting the inclusion of the French original text.

"...is his favorite poet and he loves that there is English and French in this version. The cover is beautiful and the content is beautifully macabre." Read more

"I love this book. It has great translations and offers the French original also. It is a beautiful book with lovely pictures as well. Well worth it!" Read more

"Great book, my personal favorite translation. Read a long time ago and wanted my own copy. 10/10" Read more

"...of this book that I was less than impressed with; this translation is incredibly powerful however." Read more

7 customers mention "Beauty"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one mentioning its lovely pictures.

"...The cover is beautiful and the content is beautifully macabre." Read more

"...It is a beautiful book with lovely pictures as well. Well worth it!" Read more

"...These poems take you on a wild ride of emotions, which is so beautiful that at times I could cry...." Read more

"Great book, my personal favorite translation. Read a long time ago and wanted my own copy. 10/10" Read more

5 customers mention "Poetry quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the poetry's emotional depth, with one noting how it takes readers on a wild ride of emotions, while another highlights its beautifully macabre content.

"...The cover is beautiful and the content is beautifully macabre." Read more

"...These poems take you on a wild ride of emotions, which is so beautiful that at times I could cry...." Read more

"I am not a fan of Poetry, but this guy had some great concepts in his poetry...." Read more

"...i'm not sorry i bought this book, but this poetry is so magnificent i do wish the translation had been its equal." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • KaylaRayne
    5.0 out of 5 stars I bought this as a gift...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for my boyfriend as a birthday gift and he loves it. Charles Baudelaire is his favorite poet and he loves that there is English and French in this version. The cover is beautiful and the content is beautifully macabre.
    One person found this helpful
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  • bridget
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it !!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. It has great translations and offers the French original also. It is a beautiful book with lovely pictures as well. Well worth it!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • K.R.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Baudelaire is great but..
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Firstly, I love Les Fleur du Mal and Charles Baudelaire is quickly becoming my favorite writer. I only gave this version four stars because I did not like this translation. I found it to be too literal which slightly detracted from the writing. Personally, my favorite translation is by Norman Shapiro. While Shapiro's version is not as literal a translation as this one, I feel he does a better job of retaining the rhythm and essence of Baudelaire's writings. Again, that is just my personal preference but I would suggest trying to find Baudelaire's writings at a local bookstore or library first so you can compare different translations and see which one you like best before purchasing.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Crimsonangel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry makes your heart leap
    Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I could hardly put this down. I hadn't read these in awhile and had forgotten how tranportive they are. These poems take you on a wild ride of emotions, which is so beautiful that at times I could cry. I love to know that love like thta was felt, and you can even feel how much he love he felt even in the angry or murnful poems, that's how deeply he loved.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Ryan L
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, my personal favorite translation. Read a long time ago and wanted my own copy.

    10/10
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  • Jerrett Swarr
    5.0 out of 5 stars but this guy had some great concepts in his poetry
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I am not a fan of Poetry, but this guy had some great concepts in his poetry. Having the French with English translation on the next page really helped me as a native English speaker to get the flow of the poetry and pick up (or disagree with the translator) on the parts I didn't quite understand.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • fishmom69
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very thought-provoking with it erotic subtilties
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I had gotten this for my boyfriend several years ago and last year, at this time he passed away from pneumonia. His family got rid of all his books, so I bought this for myself because he liked it so much.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Brian
    3.0 out of 5 stars Bought for college English class
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Not my cup of tea. Had to buy for college
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Capeglieri
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Excelente
    Report