Andre Chenier
From Philosopedia
Chénier, André Marie de (1762—1794)
Considered by some the greatest French poet in 18th century France, Chénier was active in the early stages of the French Revolution but was horrified by Jacobin excesses.
A freethinker, he contributed denunciatory pamphlets to the Journal de Paris, an organ of moderate royalism. His Élegies (published posthumously, 1819) and Bucoliques were consummate examples of his work, as was Iambes, which had stirring political satires in verse.
Robespierre had him arrested in March, 1794, and just three days before the end of the Terror Chénier was guillotined.
His life inspired the opera Andrea Chénier (1896) by Umberto Giordano. Chênedolle said of Chénier’s Hermes, a work in imitation of Lucretius, that Chénier “était athée avec délices (was a delightful atheist).”
