Henri Murger

Henri Murger

One of the original bohemians, Henri Murger is famous for writing the collection of short stories Scenes of Bohemian Life.

The characters and locations in the book closely mirrored those of Murger's early life as a bohemian living in the Latin Quarter of Paris, France. There, he was part of a group called the Water Drinkers, named because they were too poor to pay for wine. This group provided the basis for his characters in Scenes of Bohemian Life. The book went on to influence other works, such as Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme and, many years later, the hit Broadway play Rent.

Scenes of Bohemian Life was adapted for the stage during Murger's life and was widely successful, earning Murger much acclaim and wealth, allowing him to move out of the Latin Quarter. Murger was known to say that living a bohemian lifestyle should only be a temporary existence and living as one would eventually destroy a man. He died at the age of 38 with these last words, No more music! No more alarums! No more Bohemia!