The book that we offer to the public was written from 1873 to 1875, among travels as well in Belgium as in England and in all Germany.

The word Illuminations is English and means coloured engravings, - coloured plates: it is even the subtitle that Mr. Rimbaud had given to his manuscript.

As we will see, this one is composed of short pieces, exquisite prose or verse delightfully false on purpose. There is no main idea or at least we don't find it there. Obvious joy to be a great poet, such fairy landscapes, adorable hazy outlined loves and highest ambition (arrived) of style: so is the summary that we believe we can dare to give to the work below. To the reader to admire in detail.

Very short biographical notes will perhaps look nice.

Mr. Arthur Rimbaud was born from a good middle-class family in Charleville (Ardennes) where he made excellent and rather revolted studies. At sixteen years he had written the most beautiful verse of the world, whose many extracts by us were formerly given in an wording called The Accursed Poets. He is now around thirty-two years, and travels to Asia where he deals with work of art. As you must say Faust of second Faust, genius engineer after having been the immense poet, alive student of Mephistopheles and owner of this blonde Marguerite!

He was said died several times. We are unaware of this detail, but we would be very sad. For his knowing in the case of he would be nothing of the sort. Because we were his friend and remain it from a distance.

Two other manuscripts in prose and some new verse will be published in their time.

A new portrait by Forain who also knew Mr. Rimbaud will appear when it will be necessary.

In a very beautiful painting of Fantin-Latour, Corner of table, currently in Manchester we think, there is a portrait in bust of Mr. Rimbaud at sixteen years.

Illuminations date from slightly later.