Le Dernier Homme

by Jean-Baptiste Cousin de Grainville, Miguel Abensour (Series Editor), Jules Michelet (Preface)

Originally published in French in 1805, The Last Man is a powerful story of the demise of the human race. Drawing on the traditional account in Revelations, The Last Man was the first end-of-the-world story in future fiction. As the first secular apocalypse story, The Last Man served as the departure point for many other speculative fictions of this type throughout the 19th century, including works by Shelley, Flammarion and Wells. Grainville's masterful imagination is evident in the vast scale of the action as Omegarus, the Last Adam, and Syderia, the Last Eve, are led toward the moment when "the light of the sun and the stars is extinguished." This is essential reading for anyone interested in the roots of apocalyptic science fiction.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia, Classics, Fantasy, French Literature, Apocalyptic

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1805

About the author

Jean-Baptiste-François-Xavier Cousin de Grainville was a philosopher, poet, priest and writer. He committed suicide by throwing himself in the Canal de la Somme, victim of depression. Le Dernier Homme (The Last Man) was published posthumously by a friend.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Last Man" by Jean-Baptiste Francois Xavier Cousin de Grainville is considered the first end-of-the-world story outside of mythology or theology. Prior to this edition, the only other English translation was made in 1806 and it was not an accurate or complete translation of the work. This was de Grainville's life's work, and was published after his tragic suicide in February of 1805. Thus it can't be considered the complete author's vision of the story, but instead is a draft copy.

This is the fifth book in the Early Classics of Science Fiction series from Wesleyan University Press. As with the others, it includes an introduction and supporting documentation which enhance the reader's enjoyment of the story. In this case, the material is provided by I. F. Clarke and his wife M. Clarke. They discuss de Grainville's life and look at the influence that this work clearly had on Mary Shelley's "The Last Man", as well as all of the apocalyptic stories which were to follow.

The story draws from the book of Revelations. In this story, the narrator is selected by the Celestial Spirit to witness the days of the Last Man (Omegarus) and Last Woman (Syderia), since there will be no descendants to learn of their tale. We learn that Omegarus is the only child born in an infertile Europe, and thus he created quite a sensation when he was born. He was said to be the father of a new race, but when the infertility continues there are fewer and fewer people. He meets Syderia when he travels to Brazil to find the only fertile woman in an attempt to be a new Adam and Eve for the world.

While this may not be a polished work, it is certainly noteworthy as one of the earliest science fiction stories. It also created the end-of-the-world subcategory of the genre, and for that alone it should be read.

[Gregg Wingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

De Grainville's "The Last Man" is a seminal work on two levels: 1) It is the first apocalyptic novel and 2) It is one of the first French SF novels. However, it is less sci-fi than parable as it follows the work of the Book of Revelations not a technological view of the future.

What is important beyond the historical nature of the book is that this is the first accurate translation of the French work into English. Like Verne after him De Grainville was mistranslated and rewritten for British consumption. While Verne was infantiled for commercial reasons, De Grainville was adapted and redacted for political reasons. Published in French in 1805 and translated and republished in English in 1806, Britain's mortal enemy Napoleon was on the march and reorganizing the Continent. The author's praise of French culture and Napoleon's conquests was not palatable to English taste and were erased in translation.

I would strongly encourage any student of science fiction to read this work and, if you haven't read Verne since childhood, please go find the new translations and discover the joy of his work from an adult perspective. I know I did....

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface this review by saying that if you want to read a run-of-the-mill novel you might find The Last Man a bit odd. Grainville intended to write this as an epic poem (think Paradise Lost) complete with supernatural/religious characters and grandiose settings. Although he died before he had time to versify the text, the grandiose, epic and esoteric feel of the tale remains.

The "novel" takes advantage of the popular Romantic technique of framing narratives. It opens with a narrator who, when visiting Syria, is granted, by supernatural forces, access to a forbidden cave. When inside he is given a vision of the days of the last man on earth because "The Last Man will have no descendants who can know and admire him. My desire is that before he is born, he will be known in memory." The vision opens with Adam, condemned to sit outside of hell and watch condemned people enter it, and then follows Adam as he is sent to persuade the last man to abandon his wife and therefore not sire children. Opposing Adam is the Spirit of the World who, knowing that he will die with the Earth, wants to continue his existence at any cost.

The first half of the story is recounted by Omegarus, the last man, to Adam. It recounts his journey to find his wife - a journey fraught with confusion, contradictory visions and portents, and historical accounts from the people he meets on the way. The second half deals with Adam's words and Omegarus's reaction and actions.

The story is breathtakingly beautiful. The images Grainville evokes are both familiar and startlingly unusual, giving me the impression that I was dreaming, not reading, the story. The characters are less convincing. Omegarus and his wife, Syderia, are firmly rooted in the values and behavioural patterns of the early nineteenth century. The story expresses much concern and consternation about how humanity treats nature both in terms of overusing resources and overpopulating the planet - concerns which are particularly relevant today.

The Last Man is a very short and easy read, so I would not hesitate to recommend it to any one. If you are used to reading texts from the mid nineteenth century onwards. however, the one-dimensional characters and dreamlike plot might be frustrating for you. However, I think this is counterbalanced with the beauty and creativity of the text as a whole.

[Janne Wass · Rating 3 out of 5]

An epic prose poem about the end of the world, this book was published just months after Cousin de Grainville's death. Inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost, the book tells not of the first couple, Adam and Eve, but of the last couple. Omegarus and Syderia. It has been called the first modern work of literature to tackle the end of the world. And while it is framed in mythological and biblical images, the end of the world isn't brought fourth by a great flood or demons from the underworld, but by natural causes such as first over-population and later worldwide sterility.

The tale is told in a queer "flashback from the future" frame, as it is told by a spirit to a young man in a cave. The spirit tells of the future end of the world, as a prophesy, but in the past tense. Omegarus, the last king of Europe, seeks out Syderia, the last fertile woman, in Brazil. They meet the spirit of the Earth, Ormus, who encourage them to carry on the human species through their union. They them travel to Europe, where they meet Adam, who has been condemned by God to watch the fall of humanity. He implores the couple not to have a child, as it is God's will that the world should end ...

Cousin de Grainville's was an early example of the gloomy, gothic tales that were so popular - in particular in Anglo-Saxon culture in the 19th century. The book inspired Lord Byron's The Darkness, as well as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and in particular her novel The Last Man, as well as many other literary works. John Martin's apocalyptic paintings are often like ripped from the pages of Cousin de Grainville's book. .
.
Perhaps more fantasy than science fiction, the book nonetheless has inspired, albeit indirectly, through other works, a whole host of sci-fi stories and films. It is not a leisurely read and the poetic language and mythological metaphors take some getting used to, but it's nonetheless a beautifully written and haunting piece of work.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a college course, it is not something I would normally seek out on my own. On that note though, I am glad to have read it. I enjoyed the way that Grainville humanized the characters in a way that stands the test of time. The only pieces of the book that seem dated are the flowery language he used, but I rather enjoyed that part. The way the author took events and characters from the Bible and put his own spin on something we all, as inhabitants of this planet, think about was very captivating. The self-preservation that was sought after by the Spirit of the Earth, The Last Man, and all that they encounter was a common theme throughout. How would you handle two opposing spiritual forces trying to give you guidance? Would you follow the path that aligns with your heart and what you want to do? Or follow the one you know to be true?

[Sarahtar · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the appendix, the translator notes that this book is really just a first draft. The author died without really finishing it.

And it's a good first draft. You can definitely tell that this was intended to be an epic poem. The similie game is on point, lol.

And it's dream-like and large scale and full of description. But it pales in comparison to better-known epics like the Aeneid or Gilgamesh.

[Drfoolish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool story, made my head hurt though because I was in such a rush reading it.

[Aingeal Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first published end times novel - 1805. Very religious and moralistic.

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has presented a number of complex characters, several of which are linked through events from the past.

[Pavena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très bonne histoire mais, je suis certaine qu'il avait pris quelque chose avant l'écrire parce que c'est un délire.

[Chris Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing blend of dark, gothic future fantasy and science fiction inspired by Christian eschatology. I could easily be convinced that Cousin de Grainville was Michael Moorcock's 18th century incarnation.

The author, as an ordained Christian minister, was obliged to give the book a 'happy' ending - to do otherwise would have been tantamount to heresy - but you can read hints in the text that he was struggling against the temptation to end this work with a much darker conclusion.....

[Steve Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very poetic at times but - for the most part - an uneasy combination of science fantasy (the force of fire stored as a fluid in a container, the "secret of prolonging life", a Malthusian outlook, etc.) and religious fantasy (prophesies, the Spirit of Earth, the original Adam and Eve!, etc). There was too much emphasis on the second aspect if you ask me.

[Lulu]

1805

1806 trans The Last Man: or, Omegarus and Syderia

French vol 1 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt...

Vol 2 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt...

There is text mode