Wednesday, April 06, 2011

 

Withdrawal from the Contemporary World

J.-K. Huysmans (1848-1907), À Rebours (Against the Grain, tr. John Howard), Chapter XIV:
In short, since leaving Paris, Des Esseintes was removing himself further and further from reality, especially from the contemporary world which he held in an ever growing detestation. This hatred had inevitably reacted on his literary and artistic tastes, and he would have as little as possible to do with paintings and books whose limited subjects dealt with modern life.

Enfin, depuis son départ de Paris, il s'éloignait, de plus en plus, de la réalité et surtout du monde contemporain qu'il tenait en une croissante horreur; cette haine avait forcément agi sur ses goûts littéraires et artistiques, et il se détournait le plus possible des tableaux et des livres dont les sujets délimités se reléguaient dans la vie moderne.



<< Home
Newer›  ‹Older

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?