SOURCE: "The Centenary of a Poet," in The American Legion of Honor Magazine, Vol. 34, No. 2, 1963, pp. 73-86.

In the following excerpt, Kurz provides an overview of Vigny's poetic achievements.

… The passing of a century has strikingly increased his stature and has led to an ever-growing appreciation of the depth and originality of his imaginative spirit. His name is Alfred de Vigny.

Most American college men and women who took French will remember the name as that of the author of a poem popular in anthologies, "Le Cor" (The Horn). It recalls the betrayal of Roland at Roncevaux. To Charlemagne's nephew has been given the duty of guarding the Pyrenean pass as the Emperor crosses from Spain into France. Ganelon, the traitor, has arranged for an overwhelming attack by the Saracen horde. Vigny's poem relates this combat to the death, the refusal of proud Roland to blow his horn...