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Arthur Rimbaud: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Arthur Rimbaud? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Arthur Rimbaud
Étienne Carjat via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud (UK: , US: ; French: [ʒɑ̃ nikɔla aʁtyʁ ʁɛ̃bo] ; 20 October 1854 – 10 November 1891) was a French poet known for his transgressive and surreal themes and for his influence on modern literature and arts, prefiguring surrealism. Born in Charleville, he started writing at a very young age and excelled as a student, but abandoned his formal education in his teenage years to run away to Paris amidst the Franco-Prussian War. During his late adolescence and early adulthood, he produced the bulk of his literary output. Rimbaud completely stopped writing literature at age 20 after assembling his last major work, Illuminations. Rimbaud was a libertine and a restless soul, having engaged in a hectic, sometimes violent romantic relationship with fellow poet Paul Verlaine, which lasted nearly two years. After his retirement as a writer, he travelled extensively on three continents as a merchant and explorer until his death from cancer just after his thirty-seventh birthday. As a poet, Rimbaud is well known for his contributions to symbolism and, among other works, for A Season in Hell, a precursor to modernist literature.

Quick facts about Arthur Rimbaud

  • Full name: Arthur Rimbaud
  • Born: 1854-10-20
  • Nationality: France
  • Known as: Author
  • Wikidata ID: Q493

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Arthur Rimbaud?

Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud (UK: , US: ; French: [ʒɑ̃ nikɔla aʁtyʁ ʁɛ̃bo] ; 20 October 1854 – 10 November 1891) was a French poet known for his transgressive and surreal themes and for his influence on modern literature and arts, prefiguring surrealism. Born in Charleville, he started writing at a very young age and excelled as a student, but abandoned his formal education in his teenage years to run away to Paris amidst the Franco-Prussian War.

What nationality is Arthur Rimbaud?

Arthur Rimbaud is France.

When was Arthur Rimbaud born?

Arthur Rimbaud was born on 1854-10-20.

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