Diaboliques : six tales of decadence; trans. by raymond n. mackenzie

First published in 1874, Les Diaboliques caused an uproar and all the copies of the book were seized on the orders of the Ministry of Justice as the book was a danger to public morality. In Les Diaboliques there are six tales of female temptresses--she-devils--in which horror and the wild Normandy countryside combine to send a shiver down the spine of the reader. With its six trenchant tales of perverse love, Diaboliques proved so scandalous on its original appearance in 1874 that it was declared a danger to public morality and seized on the grounds of blasphemy and obscenity. More shocking in our day is how little known this masterpiece of French decadent fiction is, despite its singular brilliance and its profound influence on writers from Charles Baudelaire to Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, J. K. Huysmans, and Walter Benjamin. This new, finely calibrated translation—the first in nearly a century—returns Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly's signature collection to its rightful place in the ranks of literary fiction that tests the bounds of culture.Psychologically intense in substance and style, the stories of Diaboliques combine horror, comedy, and irony to explore the affairs and foibles of men and women whose aristocratic world offers neither comfort nor protection from romantic failure or sexual outrage. Conquest and seduction, adultery and revenge, prostitution and murder—all are within Barbey d'Aurevilly's purview as he penetrates the darker recesses of the human heart. Raymond N. MacKenzie, whose deft translation captures the complex expression of the original with its unique blend of the literary high and low, also includes an extensive introduction and notes, along with the first-ever translation of Barbey d'Aurevilly's late story “A Page from History” and the important preface to his novel The Last Mistress. Psychologically Intense In Substance And Style, The Stories Of Diaboliques Combine Horror, Comedy, And Irony To Explore The Affairs And Foibles Of Men And Women Whose Aristocratic World Offers Neither Comfort Nor Protection From Romantic Failure Or Sexual Outrage. Conquest And Seduction, Adultery And Revenge, Prostitution And Murder - All Are Within Barbey's Purview As He Penetrates The Darker Recesses Of The Human Heart. Preface To Les Diaboliques (1874) -- The Crimson Curtain -- Don Juan's Finest Conquest -- Happiness In Crime -- Beneath The Cards In A Game Of Whist -- At A Dinner Of Atheists -- A Woman's Vengeance -- A Page From History, 1606 -- Preface To The Last Mistress (1865) -- Translator's Notes. Jules Barbey D'aurevilly ; Translated By Raymond N. Mackenzie. Translated From The French. Includes Bibliographical References. Contents 6 Introduction by Raymond N. MacKenzie 8 A Note on the Translation 26 Diaboliques 28 Preface to Les Diaboliques (1874) 30 The Crimson Curtain 34 Don Juan’s Finest Conquest 80 Happiness in Crime 102 Beneath the Cards in a Game of Whist 150 At a Dinner of Atheists 194 A Woman’s Vengeance 252 Appendixes 290 A Page from History—1606 292 Preface to The Last Mistress (1865) 306 Translator’s Notes 314