A Season in Hell

Renowned for his defiance, Arthur Rimbaud transformed French poetry in the early 1870s while wandering Europe instead of attending university. His innovative use of language and critique of traditional forms laid the groundwork for modern literature. By age 21, he abandoned writing to travel extensively, exploring nearly 28 countries and accumulating wealth. His journey included being the first European in northern Ethiopia, yet he disavowed his literary past, dismissing it as "absurd" and "ridiculous," despite its ongoing influence in Europe.