Les Contemporains, 7ème Série
 Études et Portraits Littéraires

by Jules Lemaître

"Les Contemporains, 7ème Série" by Jules Lemaître is a collection of literary studies and portraits written in the late 19th century. The text focuses on several notable literary figures, including Marceline Desbordes-Valmore, and aims to explore their lives, works, and the historical context in which they created. Through detailed narratives, Lemaître delves into the personal struggles and contributions of these writers, providing insights into their significance in the literary landscape. At the start of this volume, Lemaître introduces the life of Marceline Desbordes-Valmore, a passionate and sensitive comedienne, discussing her early hardships, romantic failures, and tumultuous marriage to the actor Valmore. The author portrays Marceline as a complex character who has endured significant emotional pain, including betrayal and loss, which deeply influenced her poetry. Lemaître uses excerpts from her intimate correspondence to illustrate the emotional depth of her experiences, highlighting themes of love, suffering, and resilience in her life and work. The opening establishes a foundation for the exploration of Desbordes-Valmore's literary contributions against the backdrop of her personal narrative, setting the tone for an empathetic examination of her artistry.