She was born on Long Island, New York and emigrated to France at an early age. Her dress and lifestyle were as notorious among the bohemian set as her verse was; she was openly lesbian and carried on a well known affair with actress Nathalie Barney, and her close childhood friend, Violet Shillito[?]. She died, reportedly of self-starvation; her death was reported at the time as a suicide, but was possibly the result of anorexia nervosa complicated by alcoholism.
During her brief life, Vivien was a prolific poet. Much of her verse is veiled autobiography. Her principal published books of verse are Cendres et Poussières (1902), La Vénus des aveugles (1903), A l'heure des mains jointes (1906), Flambeaux éteints (1907), Sillages (1908), Poèmes en Prose (1909), Dans un coin de violettes (1909), and Haillons (1910).
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