Léoville L'Homme explained

Léoville L'Homme
Birth Name:Pierre Léoville Arthur L'Homme
Birth Place:Port Louis, Mauritius
Death Place:Rose Hill, Mauritius
Occupation:Poet, literary critic, journalist, newspaper editor, librarian
Nationality:British
Spouse:Eva Dupuy
Children:5

Pierre Léoville Arthur L'Homme (1857–1928) was a Mauritian poet, literary critic, journalist, newspaper editor and librarian who wrote in French. He is considered the foremost Mauritian poet of the late nineteenth century[1] and the first Mauritian writer to produce an extensive body of work[2] and to establish an overseas literary reputation.[1]

Journalistic work

The son of a journalist, L'Homme turned to journalism himself.[3] [4] At age 24 he became editor at the liberal newspaper La Sentinelle de Maurice, a voice of the mixed-race middle class. He left this paper due to a political disagreement.[2] With Pierre Charles he founded the French-language and English-language newspaper Le Droit, which covered political, literary, historical and commercial matters. It appeared from 1885 to 1887, when L'Homme incorporated it into his new title, La Presse Nouvelle (1887-1888). He was the first editor of the daily La Défense (1897-1900). In 1908 he founded the fortnightly Mauritiana, which had biographical, historical and literary content in French and ran until 1916.[5] As a journalist he argued in favour of constitutional reforms. After his journalistic work, he became municipal librarian in Port Louis in 1903.[2]

Literary work

L'Homme's literary work is strongly appreciative of France (which he never visited) and the French language. He stated that "La langue plus que le sang est la manifestation d'une nationalité" ("A nationality expresses itself not so much through blood as through a language") and argued that the French language was what had preserved a strong bond between (British-ruled) Mauritius and France. The staging of his one-acter Le dernier tribut in Port Louis in 1883 was the first staging of a piece by a Mauritian writer.[3]

In his poetry he went beyond the established Romantic style, being strongly influenced by the French poet Leconte de Lisle and the literary movement called Parnassianism, which advocated l'art pour l'art.[1] Recurring images in his work include lilies, stars, the sun, the moon, lips, the mouth and kisses, which "lend to his poetry the brightness of the tropical sky and a hint of spirituality". He took his subjects from the Bible, Hinduism, classical antiquity ("the gods and above all the goddesses of Olympus") and his native island, and "dedicated in his poetry a veritable cult to the Woman".[3]

Contributing to such periodicals as the Revue historique & littéraire de l'Île Maurice, L'Essor, Le Voleur Mauricien, Les Roses de Noël and Le Soleil de Juillet, L'Homme critiqued the works of many writers and poets of his time, encouraging others in their literary careers.[3] [2] He also published articles and stories under the pen name Léon Lauret.[2]

Private life and legacy

Léoville L'Homme, the son of Pierre L'Homme and Eliza Denny, was of European, African and Indian descent. He grew up in Port Louis, in the waterfront area Les Salines,[2] and married Jeanne Eva Dupuy in Plaines Wilhems on 21 May 1885.[6] They had two sons, Maurice and France, and three daughters, Jeanne, Edith and Louise.[4] He was buried in Le Cimetière de L'Ouest, Port Louis.

L'Homme is considered "an emblematic figure of Mauritian literature" whose "contribution to its development is remarkable both in quality and volume." As an admired poet, "his input has left a deep lasting impression".[2] Various streets in Mauritius bear his name, and a bronze bust of the poet to whom a muse hands a laurel wreath was placed in the Jardin de la Compagnie in the capital in 1931.

Publications[5]

About Léoville L'Homme

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jean-Louis Joubert, Amina Osman, Liliane Ramarosoa. Littératures francophones de l'Océan Indien. 1996. Éditions de l'Océan Indien, Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Groupe de la Cité International. 9782288822215. 88–89.
  2. Robert Furlong. 31 October 2016. Introduction à l'œuvre du Mauricien Léoville L'Homme à partir des notes introductives au poème Le Rock de Cirné. Continents manuscrits [En ligne]. 2016. 6. 10.4000/coma.670. 14 October 2022. free.
  3. Book: Jean-Georges Prosper. Histoire de la littérature mauricienne de langue française. 1978. Éditions de l'Océan Indien. 77–91.
  4. News: Pour que Léoville L'Homme ne meure pas de nouveau. L'Express. 21 November 2005.
  5. Book: A. Toussaint and H. Adolphe. Bibliography of Mauritius (1502-1954), Covering the Printed Record, Manuscripts, Archivalia and Cartographic Material. 1956. The Government of Mauritius.
  6. Web site: Acte de mariage. Cercle de Généalogie Maurice-Rodrigues. 12 October 2022.