Nightmare Culture: Lautréamont and the Cult of Maldoror

by Alex de Jonge

Le Comte de Lautreamont (Isidore Ducasse, 1846–1870) remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the history of literature. Shunned in his time yet later idolized by the surrealists, he is now recognized as a precocious genius for his evil masterpiece, The Songs Of Maldoror . Nightmare Culture is a crucial investigation into both the myth and reality of Lautreamont's brief existence and, in particular, the literary legacy and cult influence of The Songs Of Maldoror .

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Michael A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent literary analysis, going from broad (outlining how black comedy has worked starting roughly with Candide) to the specific (to how Lautreamont/Maldoror possesses and goes beyond black comedy at the same time). There are more examples but this was one that stuck out to me as being particularly good. It is also very readable.

However, de Jonge has a tendency to, I think, over-praise Lautreamont's genius. He was, I think, a literary genius, but de Jonge has him (not consciously, but still....) anticipating Structuralism and simultaneously rejecting it (particularly de Saussure's linguistics and Levi-Strauss's anthropology). I do think Lautreamont was ahead of his time, but maybe not quite that far. Still, it is entertaining to read and not badly argued.

Recommended for any fans of Maldoror/Lautreamont.

[Mason Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to find book, it seems, but very worthwhile for any fan of Maldoror. I can't say I agree with all of the analysis and conclusions, but it's thought-provoking and interesting, and makes me want to read Maldoror again. The author brings a good amount of background information, and it's not overly dry or academic.