Road from Decadence: From Brothel to Cloister Selected Letters of J. K. Huysmans

by Joris-Karl Huysmans

Huysmans, J. K.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1989

About the author

Charles Marie Georges Huysmans was a French novelist who published his works as Joris-Karl Huysmans. AKA: J.-K. Huysmans.

He is most famous for the novel À rebours (Against Nature). His style is remarkable for its idiosyncratic use of the French language, wide-ranging vocabulary, wealth of detailed and sensuous description, and biting, satirical wit.

The novels are also noteworthy for their encyclopedic documentation, ranging from the catalogue of decadent Latin authors in À rebours to the discussion of the symbiology of Christian architecture in La cathédrale. Huysmans' work expresses a disgust with modern life and a deep pessimism, which led the author first to the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer then to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Reviews

[Fred Dameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Huysmans writing since I read La-Bas, but I wondered what type of mind imagines the scenes in a work like La-Bas. This collection of letters tell's one what was in his mind during many of his works. If you enjoy late 19the Century French decadent writers and want to get somewhat inside their heads, this is a great read.