Our first release published in September 2024 is the first volume of PIerre de Ronsard masterpiece.
Who was Pierre de Ronsard ?
Pierre de Ronsard is one of the most prominent figures in 16th-century French poetry. Often referred to as the “Prince of Poets”, he left behind a rich and varied body of work that had a profound impact on French literature.
A bit of history
Born in 1524 at the Château de la Possonnière, near Vendôme, Ronsard received a careful education. Destined for an ecclesiastical career, he quickly turned to poetry, influenced by the great authors of Antiquity.
A serious illness, which left him deaf in one ear and left scars on his face, distanced him from his initial ambitions and pushed him to devote himself entirely to poetry.
Ronsard’s work
Ronsard’s work is rich and varied. It includes:
Odes: This is the genre in which Ronsard excels. He celebrates nature, love, friends, and the gods. His style is often marked by great musicality and a search for formal perfection.
Les Amours: This collection is dedicated to Cassandre, a young woman of the court with whom Ronsard is madly in love. These poems bear witness to the poet’s suffering in love.
Les Sonnets pour Hélène: Here, Ronsard addresses Hélène de Surgères, another of his muses.
Les Discours des Misères de ce temps: In these poems, Ronsard addresses more committed themes, such as the Wars of Religion that are tearing France apart.