Baudelaire, the spleen of modernity: 1848, the poet on the barricades

While affecting to despise her, Baudelaire writes more and more often in the press.

He treats the directors of the newspapers to which he offers his poems "

", but never ceases to take their seat.

At the age of twenty-five, he allowed himself to give "

", which he himself is careful not to follow.

His short story, La Fanfarlo, appeared in the Bulletin de la Société des gens de lettres, to which he had joined in 1846. He recently borrowed 200 francs from him and promised to repay them with two books for which he did not write the First line.

To read also Michel De Jaeghere: "Baudelaire, the alchemist of the pain"

Politics ? Charles only cares about it now and then. But when the revolution of 1848 broke out, to the astonishment of most of his friends, Charles joined it. From February 22, we will see him on the Champs-Élysées, where the municipal guards on horseback try to prevent the gatherings, and the next day in the district of Saint-Denis, where the insurgents have erected barricades. But when he arrives on Boulevard du Temple, the resignation of François Guizot, the hated minister, is announced. National Guards, workers and polytechnicians in uniform are already shouting victory. Baudelaire cannot hide his disappointment. It all happened too fast. He didn't have time to savor the “

”.

On February 24, mass is said. King Louis-Philippe fled and a provisional government was formed to prepare for the elections. Among the first measures taken by the Second Republic, is the freedom of the press. Baudelaire rushes into the breach and, with a few relatives, founded a newspaper, Le Salut public. Due to lack of funds, only two issues may appear. Baudelaire consoles himself by joining the club created by Auguste Blanqui.

As the elections set for April 23 approach, the conservative current is gaining ground in the country. The new Assembly will have only a hundred elected radicals in the face of an overwhelming majority of monarchists and moderate republicans. But in June, the closing of national workshops, created to reduce unemployment, caused a new outbreak of violence. It will be harshly repressed by General Cavaignac.

Baudelaire remained, this time, aside. However, he tries to get in touch with Proudhon, whose anarchism seduces him. He wrote to her to warn her of a danger that would threaten him. The thinker of libertarian socialism shies away, then ends up having dinner with his admirer. During the meal, Proudhon "

". He eats even more, but drinks almost nothing. Disappointed by the character, Baudelaire concludes that the man is a "

", but will never be a dandy. His convictions are too stubborn.

In December 1848, Baudelaire attended the triumphal election of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. With indifference. His revolutionary fever has subsided. Maybe it was a role play. Or a way to satisfy the need for violence that sometimes seizes him. Against himself when he tried to kill himself. Against his father-in-law when he had taken refuge behind a barricade with a brand new rifle and thundered: "

The latter, pragmatic, rallied to the Republic. He was confirmed in his functions as Director of the Polytechnic School and then appointed Minister Plenipotentiary at the Sublime Porte. In May, he joined Caroline in his post as ambassador. When he learned in Constantinople that Baudelaire had accepted the post of editor-in-chief of the Representative of the Indre who defends the principles of order, he recommended to the judicial council of Charles to pay him the sum necessary for his trip and its installation in Châteauroux. With the hope that her stepson would finally fall into line.

The adventure in Indre, however, was cut short.

Baudelaire behaves there with the utmost impertinence.

Promptly dismissed, he returned, Faraud, to Paris to join another gazette in Dijon which militates for the people.

He will not stay there any longer than in Châteauroux.

He never stops thinking about the publication of his poems, the musicality of which he tirelessly orchestrates.

He even found a new title for them:

.

Cover of the Figaro Hors-Série Baudelaire, the spleen of modernity Étienne Carjat, 1861

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