
A luminous tapestry of verse and reverie greets listeners from the very first line, where mythic colors and elemental forces blend to shape an opal‑bright world. The opening poem conjures a god‑artisan who fashions a gem that captures sunrise, moonlight, sea‑foam and fire, inviting the ear to linger on the shimmering cadence of each image.
The subsequent preface and madrigal move from grand historical musings to intimate observations of marble temples, roses, doves, and pearls, weaving together classical allusion and sensual detail. Gautier’s language flows like a cascade of enamel, each stanza a polished cameo that reflects love, transience, and the restless pulse of artistic creation.
Throughout the collection, the poet’s playful charm and reverent awe for beauty invite listeners into a garden of timeless motifs, where the ordinary is transformed into something radiant and unforgettable.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (82K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Ruth Hart
Release date
2009-07-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1811–1872
A vivid voice of 19th-century French literature, he brought poetry, novels, travel writing, and art criticism together with a strong belief in beauty for its own sake. Best known for works like Mademoiselle de Maupin, Captain Fracasse, and Émaux et Camées, he helped shape the movement later linked with "art for art’s sake."
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