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Swans is Francis Viele-Griffin’s second book of poetry. It was originally published (as Les Cygnes in French) in 1887. This edition is based on the new series that came out in 1892. Originally born in the U.S.A., Griffin (1864-1937) emigrated to France in 1872 with his mother. He is widely regarded today as one of France’s leading Symbolist poets.
In addition to the poetry of Swans, this book also contains in English translation, in the appendix, the extant text of chapter 1 (book 2) of Francis Viele-Griffin: His Work, His Thought, His Art, by Jean de Cours. According to Jean de Cours, …that which revealed an entirely original poetic temperament in F. Viele-Griffin was, in addition to his so personal form, his feeling for nature. It seemed veritably like a ‘breath of fresh air’… [but] it is not only Nature that F. Viele-Griffin confesses a sensibility for, it is above all the charms of the countryside… As with his feelings for nature, so with his desire for joy, so with his conception of art… From his very first verses, the idea of beauty is affirmed by F. Viele-Griffin as entirely new… The entirety of that collection of poems contained in Swans - At Helen’s Tomb - confides to us, through the transparent veils that the symbol dons, the idea of Beauty that the poet creates for himself. Beauty is clearly a happy proportion, a plastic harmony of forms: but it is also more than that… Helen, in whom the poet incarnates veritable Beauty, is another thing again, she is much more. She is alternately the face of joy, love, hope…
