Cadou, René-Guy (1920-51). French poet. Following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents, Cadou became a teacher in his native Brittany. By the time of his early death he had written a considerable body of poetry, finally collected in 1977. This lyrical and mellifluous writing seeks to blend into one harmonious vision the power of his feelings for the natural world, love of his wife (celebrated in Hélène ou le Monde végétal 1947), and fraternal solidarity with friends and fellow poets. Still widely admired for its freshness and urgency, Cadou's poetry is characteristic of the École de Rochefort, of which he was a leading member.
[Michael Sheringham]
