Ukleti pesnik: život Šarla Bodlera

Baudelaire was born in Paris to an aristocratic family, but lost his father at the age of seven. His mother's remarriage to Colonel Opique caused his estrangement from his family. Rejecting convention, Baudelaire led a bohemian life, enjoying alcohol, opium, and liaisons with prostitutes, such as Jeanne Duval, his "black Venus." His travels to Mauritius further shaped his exotic poetics.

Manoll describes Baudelaire's struggle with financial problems, debt, and syphilis, which undermined his health. The collection Les Fleurs de Mal (1857) caused a scandal for its explicit themes, leading to lawsuits and the censorship of six poems. Nevertheless, the collection became a key work of symbolism, exploring themes of spleen, love, vice, and death. Baudelaire's relationship with society, marked by misunderstanding, is reflected in the poem "Albatross," where the poet symbolizes freedom constrained by social norms.

The book highlights Baudelaire's influence on modern poets like Rimbaud and Verlaine, highlighting his ability to find poetry in the chaos of the city. He died at the age of 46, leaving an indelible mark on literature.