Discover a new way to read classics with Quick Read. This Quick Read edition includes both the full text and a summary for each chapter. - Reading time of the complete text: about 6 hours - Reading time of the summarized text: 14 minutes "À rebours" is an 1884 novel by French writer Joris-Karl Huysmans, focusing on the eccentric character Jean des Esseintes, who detests bourgeois society and seeks solace in an ideal artistic world of his own creation. The novel broke from Naturalism, inspiring works like Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Huysmans shifted from Naturalist style to depict an exceptional individual, drawing inspiration from his own life and the notorious aesthete Robert de Montesquiou. The plot revolves around Des Esseintes' retreat to the countryside, where he indulges in intellectual and aesthetic pursuits, creating an eclectic art collection and experimenting with perfumes and poisonous flowers. The novel received mixed reactions, with critics scandalized but appealing to a young generation of aesthetes and writers. It's believed to have influenced Wilde's "Dorian Gray" and is considered an important step in the formation of "gay literature." The book appalled Zola and led to Huysmans drifting away from Naturalism, gaining new friends among Symbolist and Catholic writers.

Discover a new way to read classics with Quick Read. This Quick Read edition includes both the full text and a summary for each chapter. - Reading time of the complete text: about 8 hours - Reading time of the summarized text: 14 minutes "Là-Bas" is a novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans, published in 1891. It explores the theme of Satanism in contemporary France and caused controversy upon its release. The story follows the protagonist, Durtal, a disillusioned novelist who turns to the study of the Middle Ages and investigates the life of Gilles de Rais, a notorious child-murderer. Through his connections in Paris, Durtal discovers that Satanism is still present in turn-of-the-century France. With the help of his lover, Madame Chantelouve, he delves into the occult underworld, leading to a climactic description of a black mass. The novel received attention for its vivid depiction of the black mass attended by Huysmans himself. Norman Mailer later adapted the novel into a screenplay titled "Trial of the Warlock." Overall, "Là-Bas" is a significant work in Huysmans's oeuvre, featuring the recurring character Durtal and exploring themes of disillusionment and the occult.