Renee Vivien

Pauline Mary Tarn was born in Paddington, England, in 1877. She went to school in Paris until she was nine years old and returned to England when her father died. As an attempt to receive the money left to Pauline, her mother declared her insane. The court then declared Pauline their ward until she was twenty-one. Pauline then returned to Paris.

When Pauline reached Paris, she changed her name to Renée Vivien to symbolize her rebirth. She then met Natalie Barney, an American heiress who was known for her flamboyant lesbian lifestyle. The two became lovers.

Renée then began publishing her poetry under "René Vivien," which is masculine. However, after publishing a few books, she began to use "Renée" to indicate her sex.

Renée wrote much of her poetry about Natalie Barney and Violet Shilleto. Violet was Renée's childhood friend and lover who died in 1901. She appears in Renée's work as repeated images of violets and purples.

Pierre Louys and Sappho were major sources of inspiration to Renée. They helped Renée to define her poetic style.

After Renée ended her relationship with Natalie in 1901, she became lovers with Baroness Heléne de Zuylen de Nyevelt. Their relationship ended in 1906. Renée continued to have relationships with women all the way until her death in 1909. She died of alcoholism and anorexia.

Little of Renée's poetry is available in English. It was originally composed in French.