This article chronicles the life of Gerard de Nerval (Gerard Labrunie) from his birth in 1808 to his suicide by hanging in 1855. It discusses his relationship to his parents, what is known of his relationships with women, progression of his writing career & identification of successes & failures, the squandering of his inheritance, & his bouts of depression & delusion. His first psychiatric breakdown & institutionalization occurred 14 years before his death.