Publisher's Synopsis
Against the Grain: A Rebours is a novel written by French author Joris-Karl Huysmans. Originally published in 1884, the book tells the story of a wealthy and disillusioned aristocrat named Jean des Esseintes. Des Esseintes is a man who has become disenchanted with the superficiality and banality of modern life, and seeks to escape it by retreating into a world of his own creation.He withdraws to a secluded villa in the countryside, where he surrounds himself with rare and exotic objects, books, and art. He indulges in his own eccentric tastes and whims, experimenting with perfumes, food, and drugs. He even creates his own private chapel, complete with a black Christ and a live tortoise that serves as the altar.As he immerses himself in this world of his own making, des Esseintes becomes increasingly isolated and detached from society. He reflects on his own life, his past experiences, and his own mortality. He is haunted by his own sense of ennui and despair, and struggles to find meaning and purpose in his existence.Against the Grain: A Rebours is a novel that explores themes of decadence, alienation, and the search for meaning in an increasingly materialistic and superficial world. It is considered a seminal work of the Decadent movement, and has been praised for its vivid imagery, its psychological depth, and its exploration of the darker aspects of human nature.1922. Introduction by Havelock Ellis. Huysmans, French novelist of Dutch ancestry, he was marked as a typical decadent. Against the Grain is part of a spiritual biography. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
