Paul Valery

Paul Valéry (1871–1945) was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. Born in Sète, he studied law in Montpellier. Following an intellectual crisis, he initially turned away from poetry and devoted himself to self-analysis and the study of scientific and philosophical questions. From 1894 onward, he recorded his thoughts in the “Cahiers.” He became known for works including “An Introduction to the Method of Leonardo da Vinci” and “Monsieur Teste.” His return to poetry with “La Jeune Parque” (1917) and the collection “Charmes” (1922) established his literary reputation. Valéry was elected to the Académie française in 1926 and held a chair in poetics at the Collège de France from 1937. He died in Paris.