The Flowers of Evil (New Directions Paperbook)

While I was not exactly thrilled with the poetry in this book, what bothers me most are the many formatting mistakes. Two spaces when there should be one; new lines when there shouldn't be; one word, like "The," causing one line to be on two; and other seemingly minute errors that bothered me through the entire book. I am not a literature or a poetry buff, nor do I claim to know French; but I do have some writing and editing experience, and I can read. The publisher of this book insults me with these errors and I feel like I was used by paying for shotty formatting. As for the poems themselves, I guess they're okay. They weren't really my cup of tea, but they weren't horrible. I had no prior knowledge of Baudelaire before buying this book, and don't plan on buying another one of his books.

I am a fan of Baudelaire’s dark poetry, and can read most of it in French. Though these are probably the best English translations, they are not true to the originals. How can you rhyme in English something that rhymes in French? I would rather have the literal translations. Also, the French and English sections are separate. For a close reading, the translations should appear on the same page spread to prevent flipping back and forth.

While this may not be the most accurate collection of Baudelaire translations, it is the most interesting. The editors assembled a complete translation of Les Fleurs du Mal as an anthology of efforts from poets and translators of wide notoriety. Some labor to preserve idiom, others focus on form, still others let their own poetic impulses rise through the language of Baudelaire. There is some beautiful work here, notably from writers as eclectic as Robert Lowell, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Anthony Hecht, and Stanley Kunitz. Baudelaire's themes are consistently apparent, and the translators' varying perspectives add a level of poeticism sometimes lost in more slavish adherence to the original text.

My 18 year old college freshman son literally said this was the best gift he has ever received.It’s a beautiful and well constructed book. Zero complaints - only praise.

This book is beautiful!!! Fast shipping, great service and was exactly as listed. A new gem for my collection! Thanks so much!!!

This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of poetry. It has had a profound effect on me. Strangely, the work of Stephane Mallormet, who was influenced by Baudelaire, is probably better. "Distress,"* for example, is better than any poem in Les fleur du mal.*translated by A. S. Klein

All the text is hanging out toward the right half of the page on kindle version by good press. Im unsure if the line breaks are accurate too becuse of this issue.

BEAUTIFUL book. Nice, heavy, leather hardcover with lovely paper and a ribbon to mark your place. I'm impressed with buy. :)

Great read for those who may be interested in the subject.

My favourite film is "Groundhog Day" and a couple of my favourite scenes are where Rita says "Believe it or not, I studied nineteenth century French poetry" and Phil initially says "Really? What a waste of time" but second time around quotes "La fille que j'aimera" (which as it turns out is from a 20th century Belgian song by Jacques Brel).Anyway, I had read a lot of nineteenth century French novels but very little of the poetry, so I thought I would start filling in a gap in my education. And it's not a waste of time. OK, there are several instances where he makes poems about how difficult it is to be a poet, which don't really strike a chord with a lay reader like myself. But on the whole it's very entertaining. There's a lot about his own "Dark Lady", and fans of ER Eddison will be interested to know that one of the best poems in the collection is "Mere des souvenirs, maitresses des maitresses".

Great Book

堀口大学訳の日本語の詩を読んだことはありますが、堀口役は美の神秘性に対して、他者としての現れを基調にして詩を理解していたように感じました。この英語の翻訳では、美の神秘性を己の内に取り込もうとする詩の力というものを感じることができました。もっとほかの翻訳も読んでみたいです。できたら原文も読みたいけどフランス語は微妙です。しかし、リリックを完全に理解するなんてナンセンスなことをしようとは思わないでしょうw?