Léon-Paul Fargue

Before he reached 19 years of age, Fargue had already published in L'Art littéraire in 1894 and his important poem Tancrède appeared in the magazine Pan in 1895.

As an opponent of the surrealists, he became a member of the Symbolist poetry circle connected with Le Mercure de France.

Walter Benjamin (who called Fargue "the greatest living poet in France"[3]) met him on a visit to the city in January 1930, and recounted an evening enlivened by charisma, wit, and incomparable storytelling.

Fargue related to Benjamin the story of a dinner he held for Proust, his old friend, and James Joyce – the only time the two met.

He is close to fifty years of age, yet leads the life of a gigolo by night, hypnotizing everyone he meets with the charm of his speech.