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Against The Grain

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The narrative follows Des Esseintes, a character suffering from neurasthenia, who retreats from Parisian life to his opulent country estate in Fontenay. There, he indulges in extreme sensual pleasures, crafting unique experiences like a "mouth organ" for drinking and cultivating exotic plants. His obsession with beauty and art, including music and poetry, leads to further deterioration of his health. Ultimately, his struggle culminates in a plea for divine mercy, reflecting the themes of excess and the search for meaning amid decadence in late 19th-century French culture.

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Against The Grain, Joris-Karl Huysmans

Language
Released
2022
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(Paperback)
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3.9
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9195 Ratings

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Language
English
Released
2022
Format
Paperback
Pages
228
ISBN13
9789357270038
Series
First published
1884
Original title
À rebours
Rating
3.9 out of 5
Description
The narrative follows Des Esseintes, a character suffering from neurasthenia, who retreats from Parisian life to his opulent country estate in Fontenay. There, he indulges in extreme sensual pleasures, crafting unique experiences like a "mouth organ" for drinking and cultivating exotic plants. His obsession with beauty and art, including music and poetry, leads to further deterioration of his health. Ultimately, his struggle culminates in a plea for divine mercy, reflecting the themes of excess and the search for meaning amid decadence in late 19th-century French culture.