Against Nature
Recommended by Josh Cohen, and 1 others. See all reviewsRanked #63 in French, Ranked #80 in Aesthetics
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... more
Reviews and Recommendations
We've comprehensively compiled reviews of Against Nature from the world's leading experts.
Josh Cohen The novel portrays brilliantly all the paradoxes and tortures of what we now call burnout—arguably more accurately than any nonfictional treatment. Hysterically funny. (Source)
Similar Books
If you like Against Nature, check out these similar top-rated books:
