This book is not merely a biography, but rather a portrayal of the life and work of a poetic personality and its social context. It addresses not only Claude Debussy's companions, including composers, poets, and painters who influenced his compositional work, but also the political and social situation at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. Artistic reorientation and industrial growth are just two themes that equally influenced music, poetry, and painting. By choosing a language that brings this complex historical period closer to the reader and revealing interconnections, a work has been created that makes access to French music of this time both exciting and easily understandable.