Background
Charles Cros was born on October 1, 1842 in Fabrezan, France.
Charles Cros was born on October 1, 1842 in Fabrezan, France.
At fourteen Charles Cros was studying Sanskrit at the College of France, and also was concerned with the synthesis of precious gems, writing literary monologs and scientific studies on such subjects as color photography.
In the early 1870s Charles Cros had published with Mallarmé, Villiers and Verlaine in the short-lived weekly Renaissance littéraire et artistique, edited by Emile Blémont. His poem The Kippered Herring inspired Ernest Coquelin to create what he called monologues, short theatrical pieces whose format was copied by numerous imitators.The piece, translated as The Salt Herring, was translated and illustrated by Edward Gorey.
Charles Cros died in Paris at the age of 45.