Baudelaire's Voyages

Library Journal

The voyages in this book are presented in four parts: voyages into the ``depth,'' ``city,'' ``dream,'' and ``now,'' featuring both Baudelaire's poems and relevant works of art exhibited recently at the Heckscher Museum in Huntington, New York. Those familiar with Baudelaire's poetry will recognize his concerns with Paris and ``spleen'' and his relentless quest to escape the human condition through art. Art historians and literary enthusiasts will find this book a pleasure to read and hold; it is selective in content, featuring fewer than 30 poems (in both the original and English translations), and beautifully illustrated with art works from several centuries that both inspired and were inspired by Baudelaire. The book's small dimensions suggests a jewel box, inviting an intimate reading. In this study, Coven, the curator of the exhibit, mixes thoughtfully his own impressions with the commentary of renowned Baudelairian scholars. Recommended for both general readers and scholars.-- Danielle Mihram, Univ. of Southern California