Jacques D'Adelswärd-Fersen

French novelist and poet whose life forms the basis of a fictionalised 1959 biography by Roger Peyrefitte titled L'exilé de Capri (The Exile of Capri). An aristocrat and dandy, he is known for having created Akademos, the first French homosexual magazine. In 1903 a scandal involving school pupils made Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen persona non grata in the salons of Paris, and dashed his marriage plans; after which he took up residence in Capri in self-imposed exile with his long-time lover, Nino Cesarini. He became a "character" on the island in the inter-war years, featuring in novels by Compton MacKenzie and others. His house, Villa Lysis, remains one of Capri's tourist attractions.

As he was related on his paternal side to Axel von Fersen, a Swedish count who had had a supposed relationship with Marie Antoinette, D'Adelswärd took on the name Fersen later in his life to advertise his link with his distant relative.

Apart from joining the military, he travelled extensively and settled down as a writer. He published Chansons Légères (1900) and Hymnaire d'Adonis (1902) and other poems and novels. In 1902 he holidayed in Venice, where he associated with the novelist Jean Lorrain. On his return to Paris he published his novel, Notre Dame des mers mortes.

In 1903 Adelsward and his friend, Hans de Warren, were rumoured to be holding "entertainments" – tableaux vivants of pupils from the best Parisian schools – in his house at 18 Avenue de Friedland. They were arrested on charges of inciting minors to commit debauchery, and Fersen served a six-month prison sentence plus being fined 50 francs and losing civil rights for five years. The "entertainments" had been attended by the cream of Parisian society, a factor which may have induced the court to drop some charges.

After his marriage plans were foiled, d'Adelswärd-Fersen moved to the island of Capri which had already attracted other homosexual or bisexual visitors, such as Christian Wilhelm Allers, Somerset Maugham. E.