Yves Bonnefoy

Considered France's leading poet; also renowned translator of Shakespeare and Yeats, and art historian. Wrote critical essays on topics ranging from the baroque to the present, in both art and literature, which are widely used and present a recognizable personal point of view. Held visiting professorships at a number of universities in Europe and in the United States, including Brandeis, Centre Universitaire, Vincennes, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Yale, Geneva, Nice, Provence, Pittsburgh, Williams, University of California, Santa Cruz and City University of New York. Was chair of comparative study of poetry at the College de France. Honors include the Prix des Critiques, the Balzan Prize, the Prix Mondial Cino del Duca, and Franz Kafka Prize. College de France created a chair for him.