Publisher's Synopsis
This text explores in depth the theatrical dimension of Arthur Rimbaud's imagination. The opening concentrates on the externals of theatre in Rimbaud's work, such as lighting, music and the operatic influence, character presentation and the use of decor. It covers the phenomenon of the "poeme-fete", the whole area of poem and drama, and the poet as observer of his own inner theatre. The final chapter examines the "poem as performance" in the "Illuminations". Features such as surprise elements, beginnings and finales, the use of the conte model and revolutionized punctuation all figure prominently. The conclusion suggest ways in which Rimbaud's "theatralite" can be assimilated to a wider contemporary interest in the interrelatedness of the arts.
