The greatest French poet of the 19th century, Baudelaire was also the
first truly modem poet, and his direct and indirect influence on the
literature of our time has been immeasurable.
Flowers of Evil: A Selection contains 53 poems which the editors feel
best represent the total work and which. in their opinion, have been
most successfully rendered into English. The French texts as established
by Yves Gérard Le Dantec for the Pléiade edition are printed en face.
Included are Baudelaire's Three Drafts of a Preface and brief notes on
the nineteen translators whose work is represented.