Poems Without Frontiers

Poems in Translation






 This Site  Web

Maurice Bouchor 1855- 1929

Bouchor was born in Paris and educated at lycée Louis-le-Grand. He turned early to poetry first publishing at age 17 in La Renaissance Littéraire et Artistique and numbered Germain Nouveau and Paul Borget among his circle. His first poetry volume, Les Chansons Joyeuses, appeared, at age 18, to critical acclaim. Several volumes followed extending over several years revealing a tendency towards mysticism. He became editor of the revue, Le Passant, in 1888.

With Jean Richepin and Raoul Ponchon, he formed a group known as The Vivants and the three became known as the "Three Musketeers". His friend, Henry Signoret, persuaded Bouchor to create several theatre pieces for his marionette theatre including several Shakespeare transcriptions, in particular, that of The Tempest, that were presented with great success.

Bouchor began to travel widely within Europe, North Africa and the United States. He translated numerous Scottish popular songs and issued several volumes of childrens songs.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he developed socialist tendencies and was active in creating educational projects for the general public on which he became an avid lecturer.

He was created Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1893 and died in Paris aged 73 years.