Charles Baudelaire (1841-1869) was a French poet whose reputation rests primarily on Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil), first published in 1857, and revised in 1861. It was possibly the most important and influential poetry collection published in 19th Century Europe.

Unable to find adequate versions of Baudelaire’s poetry, R J Dent set about translating the 1861 version of Baudelaire’s seminal classic. The result is the first 21st century translation of Les Fleurs du Mal.

Click on cover for Baudelaire translations

Alcaeus (c. 620 BC–6th century BC) was a Greek lyric poet credited with inventing the Alcaic verse. A contemporary of Sappho, he was born into the aristocracy of Mytilene, the main city of Lesbos, and was involved with the current political disputes and feuds. The date of his death is not known.

Aware of Alcaeus’s neglect due to being overshadowed by Sappho’s fame, R J Dent began translating Alcaeus’s poems and fragments. The result is a selection of poems from a long-neglected body of work, now made available in English for the first time in over fifty years.

Click on cover for Alcaeus translations