Joris-Karl Huysmans' shocking novel of an innocent's descent 
into a world of depraved, blasphemous rituals
 
Durtal, a shy, censorious man, is writing a biography of 
Gilles de Rais, the monstrous fifteenth-century child-
murderer thought to be the original for 'Bluebeard'. 
Bored and disgusted by the vulgarity of everyday life, 
Durtal seeks spiritual solace by immersing himself in 
another age. But when he starts asking questions about 
Gilles's involvement in satanic rituals and is introduced 
to the exquisitely evil madame Chantelouve, he is soon 
drawn into a twilight world of black magic and erotic 
devilry in fin-de- siècle Paris. Published in 1891, 
The Damned cemented Huysmans's reputation as 
a writer at the forefront of the avant-garde and as 
one of the most challenging and innovative 
figures in European literature.
 
Translated from the original French
Black & white interior
with white paper
Paperback 
Trim Size: 6 x 9 in
Page Count: 190