Gérard de Nerval was a notable French writer, poet, essayist, and translator. Born as Gérard Labrunie, he is recognized for his significant contributions during the era of French Romanticism. He is best known for his novellas and poems, particularly the collection Les Filles du feu (The Daughters of Fire), which includes the novella Sylvie and the poem "El Desdichado".

Nerval played a pivotal role in introducing French audiences to the works of German Romantic authors such as Klopstock, Schiller, Bürger, and Goethe through his translations. His innovative approach blended poetry and journalism in a fictional manner, influencing later figures such as Marcel Proust. His final novella, Aurélia ou le rêve et la vie, had a significant impact on André Breton and the Surrealist movement.