Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen
| Baron Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen | |
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Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen in 1905
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| Born |
20 February 1880 Paris, France |
| Died | 5 November 1923 (aged 43) Capri, Italy |
| Cause of death | Suicide (cocaine overdose) |
| Resting place |
Cimitero acattolico ("Non-Roman-Catholic cemetery"), Capri 40°33′05″N 14°14′04″E / 40.5514°N 14.2345°E |
| Residence | Villa Lysis, Capri |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Writer and poet |
| Known for |
Lord Lyllian Akademos Being the subject of Roger Peyrefitte's novel L'Exilé de Capri |
| Partner(s) | Nino Cesarini Corrado Annicelli |
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Baron Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen (20 February 1880 – 5 November 1923) was a French novelist and poet. His life forms the basis of a fictionalised biography by Roger Peyrefitte.
In 1903 a scandal involving school pupils made him persona non grata in the salons of Paris, and dashed his marriage plans; after which he took up residence in Capri in self-imposed exile with his long-time lover, Nino Cesarini. He became a "character" on the island in the inter-war years, featuring in novels by Compton MacKenzie and others. His house, Villa Lysis, remains one of Capri's tourist attractions.
He was born in Paris, France as Jacques d'Adelswärd, on 20 February 1880. As he was related on his paternal side to Axel von Fersen, a Swedish count who had had a supposed relationship with Marie Antoinette, D'Adelswärd took on the name Fersen later in his life to advertise his link with his distant relative. D'Adelswärd's grandfather had founded the steel industry in Longwy-Briey. Adelsward went to school in Paris and studied briefly there at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques, and afterwards at the University of Geneva.
In 1897 he visited Capri and other parts of Italy with his mother.
The family steel furnaces had become profitable enough to make Jacques d'Adelswärd a rich and 'eligible' bachelor when he inherited at the age of 22.
Apart from joining the military, he traveled extensively and settled down as a writer. He published Chansons Légères (1900) and Hymnaire d'Adonis (1902) and other poems and novels.
In 1902 he holidayed in Venice, where he associated with the novelist Jean Lorrain. On his return to Paris he published his novel, Notre Dame des mers mortes.
In 1903 Adelsward and his friend, Hans de Warren, were rumored to be holding "entertainments" – tableaux vivants of pupils from the best Parisian schools – in his house at 18 Avenue de Friedland. They were arrested on charges of inciting minors to commit debauchery, and Fersen served a six-month prison sentence plus being fined 50 francs and losing civil rights for five years. The "entertainments" had been attended by the cream of Parisian society, a factor which may have induced the court to drop some charges.
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Wikipedia