The Symbolist Movement in Literature

The book offers a clear, guided tour through the birth and development of literary Symbolism, tracing its roots back to early mythic naming and the philosophical ideas of Carlyle and Goblet d’Alviella. It shows how the movement emerged from Romantic precursors such as Baudelaire, Flaubet and the Goncourt brothers, and then became a consciously self‑aware style in the hands of figures like Nerval, Mallarmé, Verlaine and Rimbaud. Readers are introduced to the central belief that symbols convey unseen realities, linking the finite world of language to an infinite inner vision.

In a systematic style, the author surveys each major writer, explaining how their work reflects the shift from material description to an emphasis on suggestion, silence and double meaning. The text also contextualizes Symbolism within the broader cultural changes of the late nineteenth century, noting its influence on later mystic dramatists and on modern artistic thought. The accompanying bibliography and notes invite deeper exploration for anyone curious about this pivotal literary current.