Against Nature
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004
288
Novel • Fiction
France • 1880s
2004
Adult
18+ years
In Joris-Karl Huysmans' Against Nature, a reclusive individual named Des Esseintes retreats from society to indulge in extreme sensory experiences and artistic endeavors. Isolating himself in a suburban villa, he explores literature, art, and decor, confronting the philosophical struggle between natural desires and artificial creations.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Melancholic
Bittersweet
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Against Nature by Joris-Karl Huysmans is celebrated for its rich, decadent prose and vivid imagery, providing an immersive exploration of aestheticism and isolation. Critics praise its influence on modern literature, though some find its plotless narrative challenging and the protagonist's hedonism alienating. Its distinctive style remains a key point of both admiration and critique.
A reader who revels in decadent literature and philosophical exploration would enjoy Joris-Karl Huysmans’s Against Nature. Comparable to books like Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and Charles Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal, this novel captivates with its richly detailed aesthetic and rejection of bourgeois values.
14,862 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
288
Novel • Fiction
France • 1880s
2004
Adult
18+ years
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