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Underground Man

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Underground Man by Gabriel de Tarde is a psychological novel that delves into the complex mind of a reclusive and introspective individual. The story is presented through the monologues and reflections of the unnamed protagonist, who isolates himself from society and questions the nature of human existence, the value of relationships, and the impact of modern life. The protagonist’s musings are dark, philosophical, and filled with existential angst as he confronts the alienation he feels in an increasingly industrialized and impersonal world.

The novel explores themes of isolation, the human psyche, and the struggle between individual consciousness and societal expectations. Through the protagonist's introspective ruminations, Tarde examines the psychological effects of modernity and the human tendency to retreat into one's own mind in the face of a rapidly changing world. Underground Man offers a deep, contemplative look at the experience of living on the margins of society and serves as a reflection on the existential dilemmas of the late 19th century.

97 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2025

2 people are currently reading

About the author

Gabriel Tarde

94 books25 followers
Jean-Gabriel de Tarde, writing as Gabriel Tarde was a French sociologist, criminologist and social psychologist.

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
71 reviews2 followers
October 12, 2025
Leí este libro en su edición argentina "Fragmento de una historia futura" y quedé maravillado con este relato que puede catalogarse de ucronía, nouvelle sci fi alla verne, ensayo filosófico o incluso sátira sociológica.

Una voz del futuro nos relata como la humanidad ante la agonía del sol (anemia solar se llama en el relato) los cielos cambian de colores y las temperaturas se reducen hasta dejar la superficie en otra era polar.

La sociedad para aquel entonces se ha unificado culturalmente, repudiando la cultura de la modernidad para adoptar la lengua y culturas griegas en un gesto re-renacentista.

Bajo esta cultura de los héroes, se internan en las profundidades del planeta tierra para conservar el calor, generando una neo sociedad cavernaria, limitándose los últimos capítulos a describir los rituales, costumbres y leyes sociales de estos seres hipo-terrestres.

Tarde aprovecha para sintetizar muchas de sus ideas anti-deterministas en esta breve obrita que ameritaría sumarse a la historia de la literatura por su inventiva que solo peca de cierta candidez que también podría atribuirse a mucha ficción especulativa de época.

Un eslabón a la espera de vindicadores
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1,251 reviews3 followers
April 28, 2025
Although this is supposed to be a dystopian tale, a very early one, it comes across more as a history of human politics, governance and values.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews

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