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Contes cruels - Nouveaux contes cruels
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500 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2011
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About the author
Auguste de Villiers de l'Isle-Adam
274 books96 followersJean-Marie-Mathias-Philippe-Auguste, comte de Villiers de l'Isle-Adam (7 November 1838 – 19 August 1889) was a French symbolist writer.
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August 1, 2025PLACEHOLDER REVIEW
"The Apparatus For The Chemical Analysis Of The Last Breath" (L'appareil pour l'analyse chimique du dernier soupir) - An advertisement/promotional essay for a wondrous new product (compact! perfect for gift giving!) which (presumably) does what the title says. We never know exactly what it DOES do, because the advertising language leans into the fact that using the product correctly resumes preparatory samples be taken for later comparison "in the event of" (again, to what end is never really explicated) - and how these preparatory samplings can help accommodate friends and loved ones to the inevitability of death. Cute "black humor" but kinda half-baked in the presentation.
"The Experience of Dr. Crookes" (Les Experiences du docteur Crookes) - A scientist demands that there be a scientific investigation of claims of psychic/paranormal phenomena because it is broadly believed in by the public and claimed as true by the practitioners. But after it's all proven true, there's a realization that, regardless, Christians will dismiss it all as evil. Pretty black joke about how organized religion works to remove the miraculous and marvelous from life as a control measure.
"Duke Of Portland" - known bon-vivant The Duke of Portland has suddenly retired from active life, sequestering himself in his remote, seaside mansion/castle and refusing all audiences while wandering the beach late at night. The Queen receives a letter explaining all (she burns it and informs the extended court that the Duke should be left alone and forgiven all his obligations) but still we must ask - what is wrong with the Duke of Portland? Well, I figured it out about 1/3 of the way to, and you've probably done so as well, but I enjoyed this very Gothic yarn that almost marks the point where "Gothic" slides into "Decadent".
"Epilogue: The Messenger" ("Épilogue: L'annonciateur") lays the orientalist ornamentation language on thick as we visit the city of David in ancient times, as King Solomon contends with a visit by Azrael, The Angel Of Death. Eh, told better as "An Appointment In Samarra" by John O'Hara, this just seems like an opportunity for the author to ladle on the orientalism.
In "The Eleventh-Hour Guest (Le convive des dernières fêtes)" an uneven count of bon-vivants invite a stranger (who adopts the obviously false name of Baron Saturn) along for their night out because he is vaguely recognized by one of their party. But later, as the stranger is readying to leave for a mysterious appointment, his identity is suddenly remembered/deduced, to the dismay of the group, only for this revelation to be further complicated by further compatriot who discloses more details after "Baron Saturn" has left to his appointment. That the Baron is actually is a good detail, but the further revelation that he is not just that, but does a great job at making this a memorable conte cruel, inviting in shadings of
"The Apparatus For The Chemical Analysis Of The Last Breath" (L'appareil pour l'analyse chimique du dernier soupir) - An advertisement/promotional essay for a wondrous new product (compact! perfect for gift giving!) which (presumably) does what the title says. We never know exactly what it DOES do, because the advertising language leans into the fact that using the product correctly resumes preparatory samples be taken for later comparison "in the event of" (again, to what end is never really explicated) - and how these preparatory samplings can help accommodate friends and loved ones to the inevitability of death. Cute "black humor" but kinda half-baked in the presentation.
"The Experience of Dr. Crookes" (Les Experiences du docteur Crookes) - A scientist demands that there be a scientific investigation of claims of psychic/paranormal phenomena because it is broadly believed in by the public and claimed as true by the practitioners. But after it's all proven true, there's a realization that, regardless, Christians will dismiss it all as evil. Pretty black joke about how organized religion works to remove the miraculous and marvelous from life as a control measure.
"Duke Of Portland" - known bon-vivant The Duke of Portland has suddenly retired from active life, sequestering himself in his remote, seaside mansion/castle and refusing all audiences while wandering the beach late at night. The Queen receives a letter explaining all (she burns it and informs the extended court that the Duke should be left alone and forgiven all his obligations) but still we must ask - what is wrong with the Duke of Portland? Well, I figured it out about 1/3 of the way to, and you've probably done so as well, but I enjoyed this very Gothic yarn that almost marks the point where "Gothic" slides into "Decadent".
"Epilogue: The Messenger" ("Épilogue: L'annonciateur") lays the orientalist ornamentation language on thick as we visit the city of David in ancient times, as King Solomon contends with a visit by Azrael, The Angel Of Death. Eh, told better as "An Appointment In Samarra" by John O'Hara, this just seems like an opportunity for the author to ladle on the orientalism.
In "The Eleventh-Hour Guest (Le convive des dernières fêtes)" an uneven count of bon-vivants invite a stranger (who adopts the obviously false name of Baron Saturn) along for their night out because he is vaguely recognized by one of their party. But later, as the stranger is readying to leave for a mysterious appointment, his identity is suddenly remembered/deduced, to the dismay of the group, only for this revelation to be further complicated by further compatriot who discloses more details after "Baron Saturn" has left to his appointment. That the Baron is actually is a good detail, but the further revelation that he is not just that, but does a great job at making this a memorable conte cruel, inviting in shadings of
March 30, 2025
1e partie = Contes du Sel et du Seum, 4 étoiles
2e partie = Nouveaux Contes de Villiers de l'Incel-Adam, 0.5 étoiles, juste pour la nouvelle "La Torture par l'Esperance". Toutes les autres, plus particulièrement "Sylvabel" et "L'Incomprise" m'ont tellement gonflée que je n'ai même pas fini les trois dernières. Dommage.
2e partie = Nouveaux Contes de Villiers de l'Incel-Adam, 0.5 étoiles, juste pour la nouvelle "La Torture par l'Esperance". Toutes les autres, plus particulièrement "Sylvabel" et "L'Incomprise" m'ont tellement gonflée que je n'ai même pas fini les trois dernières. Dommage.
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