Huysmans, Joris-Karl (1848-1907), author

Two letters to Doctor Maurice de Fleury (1860-1931). Item 1, dated 1897, discusses de Fleury's Introduction à la médecine de l'esprit (Paris: Félix Alcan, 1897). Item 2, undated, discusses the illness of Huysmans' "wife" (presumably his long-term partner Anna Meunier).

late 19th century

1 file (2 items)

Purchased from Charavay, Paris, April 1932 (acc.65157).

Joris-Karl Huysmans was the pen-name of Charles-Marie-Georges Huysmans (February 5, 1848 - May 12, 1907), a French novelist of Dutch descent who published his works under a Dutch approximation of his real names. He is most famous for the novel À rebours (Against Nature), a landmark of the decadent movement; in later years his revolt from modern life and pessimism about so-called progress, which was expressed initially through adherance to the ideas of Schopenhauer, led Huysmans to a reconciliation with the doctrines of Roman Catholicism.