French poet, born Eugene Grindel Eluard in Saint-Denis. Struck by the First World War, Eluard became a pacifist militant (Poèmes pour la Paix 1918). The founder of the Surrealist movement and spokesperson for the group, was one of the most important poets. In 1920, he met Tzara, Breton, and Aragon, and participated in the Dada movement, prior to leaving on a long trip around the world. He had life-long friendships with Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso and was, at one time, a member of the Communist Party and the Peace Movement. He met and married Maria Benz (Nusch Eluard), which became one of the most important events in his life as she was the inspiration for three collections : Capitale de la Douleur (1926), L'Amour, la Poésie (1929), and La Verité Immédiate (1932), in which Eluard celebrated impassioned love with subtlety and vigor. Eluard was barred from the communist party after a falling-out between himself and Aragon. He also edited several anthologies of poetry(Les Yeux Fertiles 1936). He joined the Resistance, and yet continued his creative work, most notably the poem Liberté. After the Liberation and Nusch's brutal death (in 1946), he published a number of other collections in which he expressed his hope of seeing the birth of a humanity freed of its murderous tendancies. Eluard died in Charenton-French poet, born Eugene Grindel Eluard in Saint-Denis. During the First World War, Eluard became a pacifist militant (Poèmes pour la Paix 1918). He was the founder of the Surrealist movementm, spokesperson for the group, and a most important poet. In 1920, he met Tzara, Breton, and Aragon, and participated in the Dada movement prior to leaving on a long trip around the world. He was a good friend of Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso and at one time, was a member of the Communist Party and Peace Movement. He met and married Maria Benz (Nusch Eluard), which became one of the most important events in his life, and participated in some of his works. She was the inspiration for three collections : Capitale de la Douleur (1926), L'Amour, la Poésie (1929), and La Verité Immédiate (1932), in which Eluard celebrated impassioned love with subtlety and vigor. Eluard was barred from the communist party after a falling-out between himself and Aragon. He also edited several anthologies of poetry(Les Yeux Fertiles 1936). He joined the Resistance, yet continued his creative work, namely the poem Liberté. After the Liberation and Nusch's brutal death (in 1946), he published a number of other collections expressing his hope for a humanity freed of murderous tendancies. Eluard died in Charenton-le-Pont.
