Eugénie de Guérin (1805–48) was a French writer and poet known for her introspective diaries and letters, offering insight into 19th-century literary and religious life. She shared a deep intellectual bond with her brother, poet Maurice de Guérin.
Born in Château du Cayla, France, Eugénie led a quiet, contemplative life, rarely leaving home except for brief stays in Paris and Toulouse. Influenced by Christian mysticism, her writings reflect themes of faith, devotion, and sacrifice.
Her most notable work, Journal (1862,) chronicles her thoughts, literary reflections, and daily life, originally intended for her brother. Posthumously published by Guillaume-Stanislas Trébutien, it received praise from critics such as Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly and Matthew Arnold. Another significant publication, Lettres (1864,) compiles her correspondence, revealing her philosophical and poetic sensibilities. Her works were later republished in Reliquiae (1855,) a fragmentary collection, and a complete edition of her journal (1934,) edited by Mgr Émile Barthès.
Mary Summers’s Eugénie de Guérin: A Life of Reaction (1997) explores her literary works and personal reflections, examining how her responses to people and events shaped her writing and worldview.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Eugenie de Guerin
When the soul has laid down its faults at the feet of God, it feels as though it had wings.
—Eugenie de Guerin
Topics: Repentance
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