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Méphistophéla
Salué par ses contemporains comme une oeuvre majeure, ce roman urticant et cruel, suivant l'expression de Jean Lorrain, traite d'un double thème baudelairien incarné dans une même figure de femme : les paradis artificiels et les amours lesbiennes.
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1889
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 23, 2019
I had previously only read partial extracts from this book and from these and various writings about the book thought it had potential.
As a story it is quite straightforward. Girl has same-sex desires and the novel follows her various affairs up to about the age of thirty.
There are certainly proto-decadent images in the text, lush descriptions of womens bodies, clothes and apartments (it needs hardly be said that there are lots of very rich people involved), 'amatory unorthodoxy' (not graphic, but certainly intending a strong erotic frisson), drugs, prostitutes and ennui.
I'm no expert on lesbian literature so cannot say how it, er...'stands up' to similar novels but if it were a heterosexual novel it would probably loose a little of its charge for me, and it does tend to drag a little about half way through, redeemed by its ending which picks it up considerably.
In Brian Stablefords introduction he says that it was published episodically in a newspaper before becoming a book and in that context it seems incredible that it was allowed as some of the genital/sexual symbolism seems quite overt. It is also hard to believe that this book is not about the Renee Vivien, Romaine Brooks and Natalie Barney (all uber-rich queers) but the novel anticipates their circle by a decade, so Mendes is ahead of the zeitgeist in that respect. It is said that the novel was influential on Viviens outlook towards her homosexuality.
More controversially, Stableford (and the books blurb) suggests that it is a novel of demonic possession. Now Brian has probably forgotten more than I will ever learn about the period but a few of the episodes show distinct Charcotian traits (an early childhood 'illness', two doctors in conversation etc) and a (really great) fantasy/visionary episode in the book seems to show, to me, the influence of Michelets book on witchcraft. If anything, the book seems even more subversive that Stableford suggests, as Sophie seems largely 'out and proud' and the author often says that she is 'is as she is' suggesting to me that it is 'natural' rather than demonic. I wonder whether the publisher asked Mendes to add some suggestion of the demonic to 'tone down' the idea that people were actually like 'that'.
Having been immersed in Charcot and 'hysterical' literature for some time and knowing what (I think!) I know, adds something to my overall opinion the novel. It is certainly an interesting period piece and there are some good moments within it, but its not a fabulous novel by today's standards. However it is certainly the best of the recent Snuggly republications of the lesbian literature of the period and so its a good place to start if you feel that way...er...'inclined'.
As a story it is quite straightforward. Girl has same-sex desires and the novel follows her various affairs up to about the age of thirty.
There are certainly proto-decadent images in the text, lush descriptions of womens bodies, clothes and apartments (it needs hardly be said that there are lots of very rich people involved), 'amatory unorthodoxy' (not graphic, but certainly intending a strong erotic frisson), drugs, prostitutes and ennui.
I'm no expert on lesbian literature so cannot say how it, er...'stands up' to similar novels but if it were a heterosexual novel it would probably loose a little of its charge for me, and it does tend to drag a little about half way through, redeemed by its ending which picks it up considerably.
In Brian Stablefords introduction he says that it was published episodically in a newspaper before becoming a book and in that context it seems incredible that it was allowed as some of the genital/sexual symbolism seems quite overt. It is also hard to believe that this book is not about the Renee Vivien, Romaine Brooks and Natalie Barney (all uber-rich queers) but the novel anticipates their circle by a decade, so Mendes is ahead of the zeitgeist in that respect. It is said that the novel was influential on Viviens outlook towards her homosexuality.
More controversially, Stableford (and the books blurb) suggests that it is a novel of demonic possession. Now Brian has probably forgotten more than I will ever learn about the period but a few of the episodes show distinct Charcotian traits (an early childhood 'illness', two doctors in conversation etc) and a (really great) fantasy/visionary episode in the book seems to show, to me, the influence of Michelets book on witchcraft. If anything, the book seems even more subversive that Stableford suggests, as Sophie seems largely 'out and proud' and the author often says that she is 'is as she is' suggesting to me that it is 'natural' rather than demonic. I wonder whether the publisher asked Mendes to add some suggestion of the demonic to 'tone down' the idea that people were actually like 'that'.
Having been immersed in Charcot and 'hysterical' literature for some time and knowing what (I think!) I know, adds something to my overall opinion the novel. It is certainly an interesting period piece and there are some good moments within it, but its not a fabulous novel by today's standards. However it is certainly the best of the recent Snuggly republications of the lesbian literature of the period and so its a good place to start if you feel that way...er...'inclined'.
Want to Read
August 19, 2019Limited to 70 hardcover copies
produced.
maybes
April 20, 2020"It is essentially a horror story about demonic possession, about contrived and cruel damnation, devoid even of a Faustian pact, which merely employs obsessive lesbian desire as an instrument of damnation" oh my god
June 4, 2024
mais le mec parle tellemennnnnnnnnnnnnntttttttttttttttt tais toiiiiiiiiiiii je rigole sophor c grave ma reine dommage g un esprit critique ig sinon j'aurais trop aimé
February 22, 2026
J'ai lu ce livre suite à la vidéo d'Eve Antonov : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj8Eb...
(Je vous conseille de la regarder et je vous conseille vraiment cette chaine, de manière générale).
La note est surtout pour le style et pour certains passages absolument somptueux. Parce que pour le fond, on est sur un homme du XIXeme siècle qui écrit sur l'homosexualité féminine. Comme on peut s'y attendre, il y a un côté très regard masculin et voyeur. Le lesbianisme est aussi associé à la déchéance et à la damnation
Mais, le propos reste suffisamment ambigu pour que la lecture reste assez plaisante. Il y a quand même des moments d'épanouissement, de triomphe. Des visions somptueuses comme cette scène de sabbat. Et aussi une reconnaissance de la violence masculine, de l'existence d'un viol conjugal avec ce terme exact.
Et puis, il y a le style d'écriture. C'est magnifique, c'est riche en vocabulaire en en sonorités. Quel dommage que l'on écrive plus comme ça !
Après, rien ne vaut Renée Vivien, qui a non seulement le style mais en plus une célébration des amours entre femmes sans tomber dans les clichés homophobes.
(Je vous conseille de la regarder et je vous conseille vraiment cette chaine, de manière générale).
La note est surtout pour le style et pour certains passages absolument somptueux. Parce que pour le fond, on est sur un homme du XIXeme siècle qui écrit sur l'homosexualité féminine. Comme on peut s'y attendre, il y a un côté très regard masculin et voyeur. Le lesbianisme est aussi associé à la déchéance et à la damnation
Mais, le propos reste suffisamment ambigu pour que la lecture reste assez plaisante. Il y a quand même des moments d'épanouissement, de triomphe. Des visions somptueuses comme cette scène de sabbat. Et aussi une reconnaissance de la violence masculine, de l'existence d'un viol conjugal avec ce terme exact.
Et puis, il y a le style d'écriture. C'est magnifique, c'est riche en vocabulaire en en sonorités. Quel dommage que l'on écrive plus comme ça !
Après, rien ne vaut Renée Vivien, qui a non seulement le style mais en plus une célébration des amours entre femmes sans tomber dans les clichés homophobes.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews