Queer Places:
Cimetière de Montmartre, 20 Av. Rachel, 75018 Paris, France
Maxime Du Camp (February 8, 1822 – February 9, 1894) was a prolific 19th-century French writer, journalist, photographer, and historian. Born in Paris to a surgeon, he
became a significant intellectual figure of his time, known for his travel writing, contributions to major French reviews, and his pioneering use of photography in
documentation.
Born on February 8, 1822, Du Camp was well-educated and developed a deep interest in literature and history.
Between 1849 and 1851, he traveled through the Middle East (including Egypt, Nubia, Palestine, and Syria) with his close friend Gustave Flaubert. During this time, he became an early practitioner of photography, using the calotype process to document monuments; his travel books, such as Égypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie (1852), were among the first to be illustrated with actual photographs.
Du Camp was an active participant in the French literary scene, founding the Revue de Paris and contributing to the Revue des Deux Mondes. His political and social interests led him to join the Saint-Simonians in 1851 and later serve as a volunteer with Garibaldi. He wrote extensively on the history and life of Paris, most notably Les Convulsions de Paris (1878–1880), and was elected to the Académie française in 1880.
He passed away on February 9, 1894, in Baden-Baden and is buried in the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris.
Maxime Du Camp is frequently discussed in this context primarily due to his intense, long-term personal relationship with Gustave Flaubert. Biographical and queer studies analyses often point to their deep emotional intimacy—highlighted by their extensive shared travels and correspondence—as a focal point for researchers exploring the nature of their bond.
References:
 Dictionnaire historique des homosexuel.le.s célèbres - French Edition by Michel Larivière |
Other references:
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