Pierre Jules Theophile Gautier, 1811-1872, principally known as a French poet, however he was also a playwright, novelist, journalist and literary critic.
Born in Tarbes in the Haut-Pyrennees departemente on August 31 1811, a Basque-speaking region, which was his principal language until he went to Paris at the age of 3 or 4.
He had designs on becoming a painter, however his inclinations turned him in the direction of poetry, and these ambitions were furthered on meeting Victor Hugo. He also received assistance from Balzac, who gave him work at the Chronique de Paris.
He visited Spain in 1840 in the wake of the civil war.
He made a living from journalism although he found the work 'humiliating'; he sought and found escape in travel and poetry.
He is remembered for the quote: "Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality."