Albert Mérat ou le renversement d’une idole

In his letter of May 15, 1871, Rimbaud considers the Parnassian poet Albert Mérat almost as Verlain’s equal. This article tries to understand why Rimbaud called Mérat a « seer », what influence the poems of Mérat could have on those of Rimbaud and what were the reasons for their quarrel. It analyzes the parody that Verlaine and Rimbaud have written of L’Idole of Mérat and brings a new testimony on his role in the Coin de table case.