Why did Charles Baudelaire translate Edgar Allan Poe’s works into French?

Charles Baudelaire began translating the works of Edgar Allan Poe in 1847 after discovering a profound, almost preternatural affinity between the American author’s temperament and his own.1

Baudelaire felt a deep connection to Poe’s thought and worldview, which inspired him to dedicate much of his life to translating these works. Beyond this personal identification, Poe’s literary example provided Baudelaire with increased confidence in his own aesthetic theories and poetic ideals. These translations, which became a primary source of income for Baudelaire, were highly influential; they established Poe as a master model for French literature and served as a foundational guide for the Symbolism movement.12