The poetry of Paul Éluard, one of the founders of the surrealist movement, is often mistakenly classified as solely belonging to the surrealist style. It is only Éluard’s earlier work, however, that can be defined thus. His later work is characterized by a more formally restrained poetic style and is expressive of a renewed interest in reader accessibility. This period was one of political activism, in which Éluard, breaking with the surrealists, was a central figure in the French Resistance and an active member of the Communist Party.