The Dedalus Book of English Decadence: Vile Emperors and Elegant Degenerates

Dedalus Books of Decadence #5

by James Willsher (Editor)

The 1890s English Decadence was no mere polite response to French invention, but the hothouse blossoming of long indigenous researches into the perverse. Like Imperial Rome, England could hardly subdue and rule the globe without
becoming corrupt. The Romantics tried rebellion, but amidst Victorian industry,
terminally fatigued Decadents concerned themselves with cultivating their addiction to luxury and sensation.

In The Dedalus Book of English Vile Emperors and Elegant Degenerates, avatars and acolytes such as Beckford, Byron, De Quincey, Dowson, Bosie and Wilde are all to be found at their unwholesome best.

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Short Stories, Anthologies, Literature

210 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

Reviews

[Rob Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the stars of the Decadent movement in literature in fin-de-siecle Britain, and the earlier writers that influenced them (Byron, Beckford, Shelley, et al). A good introduction to the field, it offers a generous taste -- but only a taste -- of all the principals, designed to serve as a springboard to further reading. A further glossary of artists and writers associated with the movement provides an additional resource for exploration, as does a list of films which evoke the same decadent spirit.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Decadence as much as I do then reading this is like book porn. Only complaint which is also positive is that its more an introduction to Decadent authors and their works, since you only get a few chapters per their books and one or two poems per author.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The English Decadent movement was a very short lived one. Many of the works were not always the best but there was some real gems in the muck. This book is overall a decent read and gives one an idea of what they would like to pursue later in their reading.
For a fuller review please see my blog page https://aarons-poetry-page.com/2019/0...

[Kezia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preferred this to the Dedalus French decadent lit edition, even though it's still excerpts (and loads of poetry). The resources at the end are a nice addition, and unlike the other editor, Willsher seems to like and respect the genre and its writers.