Gun that Almost Killed Poet Rimbaud Goes under Hammer

The most famous gun in French literature, the revolver with which Paul Verlaine tried to kill his lover and fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud, is going under the hammer on Wednesday.

The Christie's auction house in Paris estimates the 7mm six-shooter could fetch up to 60,000 euros ($65,000).

Verlaine bought the weapon in Brussels on the morning of July 10, 1873, determined to put an end to his torrid two-year affair with his teenage lover.

The 29-year-old poet had abandoned his young wife and child to be with Rimbaud, who was 10 years his junior. 

But after an opium- and absinthe-soaked stay in London, which would inspire Rimbaud's "A Season in Hell", Verlaine wanted to go back to his wife.

He fled to the Belgian capital to get away from Rimbaud only for the younger man to follow him.

It was in a Brussels hotel room where, after a teary, drunken row  -- according to Rimbaud -- the suicidal Verlaine raised the pistol.

Verlaine fired twice at Rimbaud, one bullet hitting him in the wrist while the other struck the wall and then ricocheted into the chimney.

But Rimbaud still wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Having been bandaged up in hospital he again begged the author of "Poemes Saturniens" not to leave him.

Verlaine pulled out the revolver again and threatened him with it in the street.

He was arrested by a passing policeman and sentenced to two years in jail with hard labor.

The confiscated gun found its way into the hands of a private collector, Christie's said.