Robert Edward Hart Memorial Museum
The Robert Edward Hart Memorial Museum is dedicated to the Mauritian poet Robert Edward Hart. Following his death in 1954, the Government purchased his bungalow and turned it into a museum in his memory. It is located in the renovated coral bungalow in Souillac. He was buried at the Souillac Cemetery which you can see from the museum.
Robert Edward Hart helped boost Mauritian literature with his many poems and plays as well as speeches and chronicles. He was awarded the Prix Edgar Poe by Maison de Poésie de France for a selection of poems he published under the title Poëmes Solaires in 1937. His writings are quite rare to find. Copies as well as originals of some of his works are displayed at the memorial museum. He was a poet that was appreciated by both the French and the English. He started young, writing his first poems at the age of 15.
He was the Curator and Librarian of the Mauritius Institute, located at the Mauritius Natural History Museum, before his retirement. He spent the last 13 years of his life at Le Nef (the nave), a quaint coral stone beach cottage. Le Nef bungalow was built with contributions made by hiss friends after his first house was destroyed in a cyclone. He wrote a poem to express his thanks for the generosity of his friends. The poem can be found at the entrance of the memorial museum.
During your visit at Robert Edward Hart Memorial Museum you enter the lobby will lead you to a hall which served as the dinning as well as a guest room. You will also be able to visit his bedroom, kitchen and study.
Medals which honoured him with the titles of Officer of the British Empire by England and Chevalier de la L’égion d’Honneur by France are also on display. There is plenty of information to grasp. Please bear in mind no photos are to be taken inside the museum. The Museum is located on the edge of the sea, and it is no wonder that Robert Hart was inspired by the wonderful views. Go to the back of the house to see the views of the beach and the sea.
