Larbaud, an anti-modern modernist?
Larbaud, moderne antimoderne ?
Résumé
Was Larbaud an anti-modern modernist? Modern in his way of taking the reader on a journey and in his luxurious poetry? Modern in his free verse and internal monologues? Modern in his cosmopolitan openness at a time of nationalistic tension? Modern in his translation of barbarians from America or Britain? But if so, why are we talking about anti-modernity? Perhaps because Valery Larbaud, an amateur professional man of letters, a sedentary vagabond, a cosmopolitan patriot, is a man of oxymorons.
Moderne antimoderne, Larbaud ? Moderne pour son invitation au voyage et sa poésie du luxe ? Moderne par son vers libre et son monologue intérieur ? Moderne par son ouverture cosmopolite en un temps de crispation nationaliste ? Moderne par sa traduction des Barbares venus d’outre-Atlantique ou d’outre-Manche ? Mais alors, pourquoi parlons-nous d’antimoderne ? Peut-être parce que Valery Larbaud, amateur professionnel des lettres, vagabond sédentaire, patriote cosmopolite, est l’homme des oxymores.