La-Bas: A Journey into the SelfSCB Distributors, 19.02.2011 - 200 Seiten " Huysmans novel, though it is clearly rooted in the preoccupations of the late 19th century, is remarkably prophetic about the concerns of our own recent fin de siecle. With its allusions to, amongst other things, Satanic child abuse, alternative medicine, New Age philosophy and female sexuality, the novel has clearly a lot to say to a contemporary audience. As with most of Huysmans' books, the pleasure in reading is not necessarily from its overarching plot-line, but in set pieces, such as the extraordinary sequences in which Gilles de Rais wanders through a wood that suddenly metamorphoses into a series of copulating organic forms, the justly famous word-painting of Matthias Grunewald's Crucifixion altar-piece, or the brutally erotic scenes, crackling with sexual tension, between Durtal and Madame Chantelouve. If it is about anything, La-Bas is about Good and Evil. This enlightening new translation will be especially useful to students of literature. Not only does it contain an introduction that puts Huysmans in context for those who are new to his work, it also includes extensive notes to unlock the mass of obscure words that litter the text, and references to a vast array of scientists, false messiahs and misfits whose ideas went into the concoction of this strangely fascinating book." Beryl Bainbridge in The Spectator This novel is one of the key texts of the Decadent movement of the 1890s and writhes with satanists, occultists, incubi (male demons), succubi (female demons) and intellectuals.” Sophia Martelli in The Observer "This Gothic shocker is not for the faint hearted..." Jerome Boyd Maunsell in The Times "The classic tale of satanism and sexual obsession in nineteenth-century Paris, in an attractive new edition. The novel's enervated anti-hero, Durtal, is writing a book about Gilles de Rais, child-murderer and comrade in arms of Joan of Arc. When he's not swotting up on alchemy, visiting Rais' ruined castle and fantasising about a mystery woman, he is pondering Catholicism with his friends. But his sexual adventures and historical studies mesh when he's invited to witness a black mass. Strong meat for diseased imaginations." Time Out |
Inhalt
Chapter IV | |
Chapter V | |
Chapter VI | |
Chapter XI | |
Chapter XII | |
Chapter XIII | |
Chapter XIV | |
Chapter XV | |
Chapter XVI | |
Chapter XVII | |
Chapter XVIII | |
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
Abbé alchemists altar asked astrologer believe bell-ringer bells bishop Black Mass blood body Boullan Canon Docre Carhaix century CHAPTER château Christ Church continued cried crimes cure demons Devil Doctor Johannès door dream Durtal Eliphas Lévi everything evil eyes flesh France Gévingey Gilles de Rais hands head Hermies Holy husband Huysmans Hyacinthe imagine incubus J. K. Huysmans Jean de Malestroit Joan of Arc kissed Là-Bas laughing letters listen lives look Machecoul Madame Chantelouve magic magicians Malestroit Marshal Middle Ages mind Monsieur murder mystical never Nicolas Flamel night novel o’clock occult one’s Oswald Wirth Paris passion possessed Prelati priest Rebours replied Rosicrucians sacrilege Saint Satanism seemed silence soul spells spirit succubus suffering Sylvie Germain talk tell there’s things thought Tiffauges told tower turn voice what’s women word