Gilles de la Tourette the Poet?

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Georges Gilles de la Tourette’s poetical pursuits. A man of many talents, these poems provide insight into yet another facet of Gilles de la Tourette’s personality. As well, they may provide some clue to his mental state as he suffered from the long-term effects of syphilis. It is difficult to know whether these poems should be taken as initial signs of Gilles de la Tourette’s disease or whether they are a simple manifestation of his imagination and the pleasure he took in writing. His poetry can be found at the family archive in Loundun.