Dr Tony Shaw: Arthur Rimbaud in Roche, Ardennes (08)

14 March 2019

Arthur Rimbaud in Roche, Ardennes (08)

Libellés : Ardennes (08), French Literature, Rimbaud (Arthur), Roche (08)

La Maison des Rimbaud à Roche, by Paterne Berrichon, Rimbaud's brother-in-law. Rimbaud's mother Vitalie was born in Roche in 1825, and came into possession of the farm by inheritance in 1855. She lived with her children in Charleville for some time, but later returned to the farm where Rimbaud spent some time and wrote Une saison en enfer there in 1873, when recovering (mentally) from Verlaine having shot him in the wrist. His attempts, aided financially by his mother, to encourage an interest in Paris in his self-published work failed miserably at the time.

The farm was destroyed by the Germans during the war, and only a wall remains.

A house was built in its place.

This is now Place Arthur Rimbaud, and singer Patti Smith, a great admirer of Rimbaud, recently bought the house to preserve it.

The lavoir still exists and a sign suggests that this was an inspiration to Rimbaud.

The Une saison en enfer memorial in front of the house, by Paul Boens. The two upright stones, which could resemble menhirs, indicate Rimbaud's Celtic past, as well as his two paths: European and African.