Rimbaud & Verlaine's London home to become literary centre

["Carol Green" <carolgreen>]

Strictly speaking this is a 'no Patti content' post but I thought it would be
of interest to you all...


Poets legacy will live on at their old home

THE Camden Town home of French 19th century poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul
Verlaine has been sold by a property developer and is destined to become a
literary centre honouring their cultural legacy.

Rimbaud and Verlaine, two of Frances most admired romantic poets, eloped to
the house in Royal College Street in 1873 when it became common knowledge in
Paris that they were having a gay affair. They produced some of the most
respected works of French literature while living at the address.

The house, previously owned by the Royal Veterinary College, was placed on the
English Heritage At-Risk register in 2002.
Property developer Michael Ogun bought the house in an auction last year. He
said then that he planned to modernise the terrace of three houses and then
sell them on in about five years time.

But he has now sold the poets former home, No 8, to retired civil servant
Michael Corby. He has employed a designer and architect to draw up plans for
the 1828 building, with a brief that includes performance spaces for poetry
events.
Mr Corby said: I will admit I do not particularly care for Verlaine but think
Rimbaud is absolutely wonderful. My first objective is to get the place
restored and then use this as a base to promote their works.

He added: Luckily there are a number of original features still there I plan
to restore.
When work on the house is finished, he hopes to bring in arts bodies to help
manage the centre. Literary charity Poets in the City is in talks with Mr
Corby about a possible role.

Poets in the City executive Graham Henderson said: We hope to produce a plan
to secure its future as some kind of cultural centre which will put poetry in
the forefront of events at the property.

Former Labour councillor Gerry Harrison, who has campaigned to save the poets
home, wants Camden Council to back Mr Corbys plans. He said: Camdens
planners wrote me a letter in 2005 which says that the council will look
favourably on any change of use from residential at this address in view of
its historic and literary connections.

http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/2007/110807/news110807_17.html