Description
Abyssinian Letters
Book Summary
This work gathers the correspondence that Arthur Rimbaud wrote during his time in Ethiopia, between 1880 and 1891. Far from the image of the cursed poet, the letters reveal a man trapped by the need for stability, obsessed with commercial projects, and longing for a bourgeois life in France. Through these writings, the reader gains access to the intimate voice of someone who, unknowingly, had already bequeathed his masterpiece, A Season in Hell, to modern literature. An edition that reveals a human, vulnerable, and contradictory Rimbaud.
What is it about?
In the summer of 1880, Arthur Rimbaud leaves Cyprus, heading toward the shores of the Red Sea with an uncertain destination. From there, he ventures into Ethiopia, settling for long periods in the city of Harar. Eleven years later, he returns to Marseille, only to die at the age of 36.
The letters from this period, collected in this edition, are not poetic documents, but rather chronicles of a daily struggle. In them, Rimbaud lays out projects that are almost always unrealistic, details his business dealings, and expresses, above all, the desire to settle down as a peaceful family man in far-off, humid France. The correspondence shows with heartbreaking sadness the loneliness of a man who, unknowingly, had already created the greatest lyrical work of the modern era. This passionate edition by Lolo Rico uncovers a good Rimbaud, far from the myth, showing the suffering of someone who had lost his place in the world.
Main themes
- Exile and the search for a place in the world, far from literary success.
- The contradiction between poetic genius and the longing for a conventional bourgeois life.
- The loneliness and uprooting of a man who abandons his vocation.
- 19th-century Africa seen through the eyes of a European in search of a fortune.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the figure of Arthur Rimbaud beyond the myth of the cursed poet. It is also for those who enjoy epistolary literature, travelogues, and biographies that explore human complexity. It is an essential read for understanding the lesser-known facet of one of the great innovators of modern poetry.
What this book offers
- An intimate and human portrait of Rimbaud, removed from the legend and based on his own words.
- A unique perspective on the author's African period, sparsely documented in his known work.
- The opportunity to understand the contradictions of a genius who renounced his gift in search of a normal life.
- A careful edition that contextualizes and gives meaning to a heartbreaking correspondence.
Technical specifications
- Author: Rimbaud, Arthur
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, TRAVEL LITERATURE
- Collection: VIENTO SIMUN
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: May 2010
- Number of pages: 245
- Weight: 452 g
Editorial Review
This edition of Abyssinian Letters offers exceptional documentary value for Rimbaud scholars and any reader interested in the psychology of the creator. Lolo Rico's selection and work provide access to the poet's most vulnerable and unknown voice, showing the contrast between the literary genius and the common man. It is a work that invites reflection on the price of talent and the pursuit of happiness, proving especially attractive to those looking to go beyond the surface of the myth.