La mitologia nei capolavori della pittura
- 221 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Marc Fumaroli Book order (chronological)
June 10, 1932 – June 24, 2020
Marc Fumaroli was a literary scholar and art historian who specialized in French classical rhetoric. His work delved deeply into the interplay between literature, art, and power within European culture, exploring how these modes of expression intertwine and influence one another. Fumaroli's meticulous research and brilliant prose illuminated the complexities of rhetorical traditions and their enduring impact on aesthetic and intellectual thought. He was celebrated for his ability to bring past intellectual currents to life, presenting them with fresh relevance for contemporary readers.
Fables: Jean de la Fontaine; Translated by Sir Edward Marsh; Illustrated by R. de la Nézière
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Jean de la Fontaine's fables explore timeless themes such as greed, envy, love, and mortality through a collection of 60 tales featuring memorable animal characters. Drawing inspiration from both well-known and obscure classical sources, these stories, including "The Crow and the Fox" and "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse," remain relevant today. The collection is enhanced by over 100 charming illustrations that bring La Fontaine's delightful narratives and their vibrant personalities to life.
Against Nature (A Rebours)
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
With a title translated either as Against Nature or as Against The Grain, this wildly original fin-de-siècle novel follows its sole character, Des Esseintes, a decadent, ailing aristocrat who retreats to an isolated villa where he indulges his taste for luxury and excess. Veering between nervous excitability and debilitating ennui, he gluts his aesthetic appetites with classical literature and art, exotic jewels (with which he fatally encrusts the shell of his tortoise), rich perfumes, and a kaleidoscope of sensual experiences. The original handbook of decadence, Against Nature exploded like a grenade (in the words of Huysmans) and has enjoyed a cult readership from its publication to the present day.