The Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, salutes the memory and work of Philippe Jaccottet.
Published during his lifetime in the Pléiade collection, this illustrious Swiss French-language writer, translator and literary critic, devoted himself to the search for words capable of guessing the secret dimension of the world.
His first great collection of poems, The Scare, published in 1953, marks the beginning of his melodious poetic work, animated by the right expression of the purest feelings. His poems, which have been crowned with success, have been included in the Gallimard/Poésie collection, including «A la lumière d'hiver» and «La Semaison».
After studying literature, Greek and German at the University of Lausanne, Philippe Jaccottet also became a translator. His translations have made known the works of the Austrian writer Robert Musil, the German poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke and the work of the Italian author Giuseppe Ungaretti. They also gave new life to the songs of the Odyssey of Homer.
Philippe Jaccottet has won numerous awards in France and Germany, including the Grand prix de la Traduction in 1987 and the Goncourt de la poésie in 2003. He was Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.
The Minister extends her sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.