Paul Éluard (1895-1952), French poet, born in Saint-Denis. His verse is essentially lyrical although always drawn from both the everyday and the dramatic experiences of his own life. In the 1920s and early 1930s Éluard experimented with poetic techniques. The theme of dream versus reality and the free expression of thought processes is reflected in his Surrealistic poetry of this period. Later, influenced by the Spanish Civil War and his joining the Communist party, Éluard produced poetry more political and social in subject and more traditional in style.