At the edge of art and insanity

The novel's provocative blend of yuppie satire and splatter horror sparked intense controversy, leading to its initial publisher, Simon & Schuster, canceling the contract due to public backlash. This unprecedented move in the American publishing industry highlighted the tensions between artistic expression and societal norms. Despite being labeled as pornographic and anti-women, the book's eventual release in 1991 established Bret Easton Ellis as a polarizing figure in literature, following his earlier acclaim for "Less than Zero."