Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93364 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-28
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
J. K. Huysmans's gaudy, shocking, and largely autobiographical novel, "The Damned (La-Bas)" was quickly condemned and just as quickly achieved cult status. It follows Durtal, a shy, censorious man, who is writing a biography of Gilles de Rais, the fifteenth-century nobleman, child-murderer, and supposed model for "Bluebeard." Bored and disgusted by the vulgarity of everyday life, Durtal seeks spiritual solace by immersing himself in another age. But when he meets the exquisitely evil Madame Chantelouve, he is drawn inextricably into the twilight world of black magic and erotic devilry in fin-de-siecle Paris.

Customer Reviews

Not For Everyone
Huysmans' novel is a bit different from most books that you buy. If you are expecting a gory type of horror novel then you will be sorely disappointed.

This book is about Durtal, who is writing a biography of Gilles de Rais and his attrocious crimes. He spends most of the novel talking about his book, writing styles, religion, and mysticism. He usually discourses amongst his friends at a bell ringer's apartment.

Over half way through the book there is a bit of sex thrown in, and Durtal eventually gets to witness a Black Mass. So why would you read this book? The book ranges from the ridiculous to the absurd, with its arcane subject matter. The actual story isn't really what holds this book together but rather Huysmans' writing technique and narrative style. To be honest, Huysman could have written about going to buy a loaf of bread, and he would have still produced an emminently readable book.

down there
exellent, intelligent, unusual.
away to get my hands on some of his other works.
a real undiscovered gem.

the damned
fantastic
everybody should read this
a great fin de siecle (c19)novel
dark & foreboding, with some shocks, a true masterpiece