Best Selling Books by Charles Baudelaire

Les Fleurs du Mal By Charles Baudelaire We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

The Flowers of Evil, which T. S. Eliot called the greatest example of modern poetry in any language, shocked the literary world of nineteenth century France with its outspoken portrayal of lesbian love, its linking sexuality and death, its unremitting irony, and its unflinching celebration of the seamy side of urban life. The volume was seized by the police, and Baudelaire and his published were put on trial for offence to public decency. Six offending poems were banned, in a conviction that was not overturned until 1949. This bold new translation, which restores the banned poems to their original places and reveals the full richness and variety of the collection, makes available to English speakers a powerful and original version of the world. Jonathan Culler''s Introduction outlines this vision, stressing that Baudelaire is more than just the poet of the modern city. Originally to be called `The Lesbians'', The Flowers of Evil contains the most extraordinary body of love poetry. The poems also pose the question of the role of evil in our lives, of whether there are not external forces working to frustrate human plans and to enlist men and women on appalling or stultifying scenarios not of their own making. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

The Flowers of Evil (Les Fleurs du Mal) may speak of the carnal, depraved, and decaying in human life and the city, but Charles Baudelaire''s poetry so infuses even the most grotesque with beauty and a kind of innocence that the reader is moved beyond the rubric of the sacred and profane, into sublimity. This new edition, which features the English translation by F.P. Sturm and W.J. Robertson, also includes artwork by Lester Banzuelo.

Upon its original publication in 1857 Charles Baudelaire''s "Les Fleurs du Mal" or "The Flowers of Evil" was embroiled in controversy. Within a month of its publication the French authorities brought an action against the author and the book''s publisher claiming that the work was an insult to public decency. Eventually the French courts would acknowledge the literary merit of Baudelaire''s work but ordered that six poems in particular should be banned from subsequent publication. The notoriety caused by this scandal would ultimately work in the author''s favor causing the initial publication to sell out, thus prompting the publication of another edition. The second edition was published in 1861, it included an additional thirty-five poems, with the exclusion of the six poems censored by the French government. Finally in 1868 a third edition was published posthumously.

In the compelling anthology ''Charles Baudelaire, His Life,'' readers are invited to immerse themselves in a panoramic exploration of Baudelaire''s world. The collection deftly weaves a tapestry of literary styles ranging from prose to poetry, each piece dissecting the life, influence, and legacy of the iconic French poet. The overarching themes of existentialism, melancholy, and modernity are meticulously interspersed throughout the selection, offering diversity and depth. A standout prose discussion illuminates the transformative nature of Baudelaire''s artistry, showcasing the intrinsic connection between his existential musings and the broader Romantic context. This anthology boasts contributions from distinguished authors, such as Théophile Gautier and Charles Baudelaire himself, whose lives and works are entwined with 19th-century French literature''s most meaningful moments. Gautier''s vivid literary portraits complement Baudelaire''s introspective reflections, collectively enriching our understanding of their shared historical and cultural milieu. As voices of the Romantic and Symbolist movements, their combined contributions encapsulate a vivid portrayal of the tensions and harmonies that defined their era, bringing forth an intricate dialogue that bridges personal insight with broader literary evolution. ''Charles Baudelaire, His Life'' offers readers a unique opportunity to explore a multiplicity of perspectives unified by the luminary figure of Baudelaire. This collection is an essential compendium for those eager to engage in a rich narrative that traverses styles and themes, educates the literary palate, and underscores enduring dialogues within and beyond its pages. It invites scholars and enthusiasts alike to delve deeper into the myriad insights and profound reflections, challenging readers to rethink the intricate tapestry of this transformative epoch in literary history.

Baudelaire is one of the major innovators in French literature. His poetry is influenced by the French romantic poets of the earlier 19th century, although its attention to the formal features of verse connect it more closely to the work of the contemporary ''Parnassians''. As for theme and tone, in his works we see the rejection of the belief in the supremacy of nature and the fundamental goodness of man as typically espoused by the romantics and expressed by them in rhetorical, effusive and public voice in favor of a new urban sensibility, an awareness of individual moral complexity, an interest in vice (linked with decadence) and refined sensual and aesthetical pleasures, and the use of urban subject matter, such as the city, the crowd, individual passers-by, all expressed in highly ordered verse, sometimes through a cynical and ironic voice. Formally, the use of sound to create atmosphere, and of ''symbols'', (images which take on an expanded function within the poem), betray a move towards considering the poem as a self-referential object, an idea further developed by the Symbolists Verlaine and Mallarmé, who acknowledge Baudelaire as a pioneer in this regard.

This new bilingual edition of Les Fleurs du Mal has been fully revised and edited to reflect recent scholarship. The poems that were added to the posthumous edition of 1868 have been allocated new positions within the collection, and the six censored pieces have been restored to the positions they occupied in the edition of 1857.The poems have been carefully assessed with regard to both rhyme and metre, and translated into English verse which preserves as closely as possible both the original versification and the intrinsic sense of each poem.

Les Fleurs du mal (English: The Flowers of Evil) is a volume of French poetry by Charles Baudelaire. First published in 1857, it was important in the symbolist and modernist movements. The poems deal with themes relating to decadence and eroticism.This new Bilingual English - French edition provides the original text of Charles Baudelaire with a powerful translation by Cyril Scott.

A stunning new translation of a neglected masterpiece by one of history’s most celebrated writers. Ten years before Baudelaire published his masterpiece, The Flowers of Evil, the great poet penned the only prose fiction of his career: La Fanfarlo. The novella describes the torrid real-life affair the poet had with Jean Duval, a dancer whose beauty and sexuality Baudelaire came to obsess over. The outcome is a work of raw emotional power and a clear distillation of the Parisian’s poetic genius. As Baudelaire himself said, “Always be a poet, even in prose.” *** This is a Hybrid Book. Melville House HybridBooks combine print and digital media into an enhanced reading experience by including with each title additional curated material called Illuminations — maps, photographs, illustrations, and further writing about the author and the book. The Melville House Illuminations are free with the purchase of any title in the HybridBook series, no matter the format. Purchasers of the print version can obtain the Illuminations for a given title simply by scanning the QR code found in the back of each book, or by following the url also given in the back of the print book, then downloading the Illumination in whatever format works best for you. Purchasers of the digital version receive the appropriate Illuminations automatically as part of the ebook edition.

The Spleen of Paris contains Charles Baudelaire''s prose poems, and, after Les Fleurs du Mal, it is arguably one of his most important poetic works. The collection spans the entire panorama of life in mid-19th century Paris and beyond. From tales inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, to portraits of the poor both young and old, fickle courtesans and mistresses, tired and opportunistic carnival performers, far away tropical paradises, urban squalor and bourgeois hypocrisy; Baudelaire captures it all with his unique pessimistic, often humorous style, filled with irony and biting social criticism. Written and compiled over the last ten years of his life, The Spleen of Paris wasn''t published in its entirety until 1869, after Baudelaire''s death. This translation is based on that edition, and brings Baudelaire''s intense observation and poetic vision to life for modern audiences. Through his writing, we can relive the world of that bygone era, a Paris where something was always rotten beneath the fancy veneer, and also, lurking somewhere among the unforgiving backstreets where you''d least expect it, a sense of humanity.

The Classic French text translated by Eric Gans.

Between 1855 and his death in 1867, Charles Baudelaire inaugurated a new—and in his own words "dangerous"—hybrid form in a series of prose poems known as Paris Spleen. Important and provocative, these fifty poems take the reader on a tour of 1850s Paris, through gleaming cafes and filthy side streets, revealing a metropolis on the eve of great change. In its deliberate fragmentation and merging of the lyrical with the sardonic, Le Spleen de Paris may be regarded as one of the earliest and most successful examples of a specifically urban writing, the textual equivalent of the city scenes of the Impressionists. In this compelling new translation, Keith Waldrop delivers the companion to his innovative translation of The Flowers of Evil. Here, Waldrop''s perfectly modulated mix releases the music, intensity, and dissonance in Baudelaire''s prose. The result is a powerful new re-imagining that is closer to Baudelaire''s own poetry than any previous English translation.

In "The Poems and Prose Poems of Charles Baudelaire," the reader is invited into a kaleidoscopic exploration of beauty, decadence, and existential angst, hallmarks of Baudelaire''s innovative style. The compilation signifies a pivotal moment in 19th-century literature, bridging Romanticism and modernism through its vivid imagery, emotional intensity, and mastery of form. The prose poems, in particular, reveal Baudelaire''s deft experimentations with language, blending poetic rhythm with narrative flair, thereby redefining the boundaries of poetic expression and unveiling the complexities of urban life and modern existence in a rapidly changing world. Charles Baudelaire, a seminal figure in French literature, was deeply influenced by the turbulent socio-political landscape of his time, as well as his own personal struggles with isolation and artistic ambition. His pioneering approach to poetry, which often questioned conventional aesthetic values, was significantly shaped by his encounters with art, music, and the burgeoning cityscape of Paris. The preface by James Huneker provides valuable insight into Baudelaire''s philosophically rich oeuvre, positioning him as a forerunner of the Symbolist movement and a beacon for future generations of poets. This collection is essential for any reader seeking to understand the profound shifts in literary thought brought forth by the 19th century. Baudelaire''Äôs work invites deep reflection on the interplay between beauty and despair, making it a compelling read for both scholars and casual readers alike. Engage with these poems to discover the intricate layers of human emotion and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented world.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Previously untranslated essays of Baudelaire, now published for the first time.

Handsome edition includes great French poet''s controversial work, "Les Fleurs du Mal," plus prose poems from "Spleen of Paris," critical essays on art, music and literature, and personal letters.

A comprehensive and factual essay in which Baudelaire analyses the feelings, both pleasurable and torturous, experienced by an opium user and the intense effort it takes to overcome the addiction. Delving deep into the subject, he traces the origins of the plant from which hashish is made. The essay is highly informative and serves as a warning to current and would-be opium users.

At the time of its release in 1860, Baudelaire''s "Artificial Paradises" met with immediate praise. Beautifully wrought, this portrait of the effects of wine, opium, and hashish on the mind captures the dreamlike visions that the author experienced during his narcotic trances. **Lightning Print On Demand Title

In "Les Fleurs du Mal" (The Flowers of Evil), Charles Baudelaire masterfully weaves intricate poetry that explores themes of beauty, decadence, and the duality of human experience. His innovative use of symbolism and synesthetic imagery captivates the reader, reflecting the tensions between the divine and the profane. Written during a period marked by rapid modernization in 19th-century France, Baudelaire''s work stands as a cornerstone of Symbolism, influencing countless poets and artists through its complex interplay of emotions and vivid portrayals of urban life, love, and existential despair. The collection''s notable sections, such as "Spleen and Ideal," delve into the poet''s struggle with ennui, framed in a rich, lyrical style that redefined poetic expression. Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) was a pioneering literary figure whose experiences in a rapidly changing Paris profoundly shaped his worldview. His exposure to the avant-garde art scene, coupled with his tumultuous personal life, fostered a profound introspection reflected in his works. The tension between beauty and decay in Baudelaire''s poetry often mirrors his own life struggles, particularly his battles with societal norms and personal despair, ultimately leading to a revolutionary poetic voice. "Les Fleurs du Mal" is essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of modern poetry and its roots. Baudelaire''s ability to distill complex emotions into concise, striking verses invites readers to grapple with their own aesthetic experiences, making this collection a timeless exploration of the human condition. Immerse yourself in this rich tapestry of thought and feeling that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.

This edition contains new translations by Rosemary Lloyd of an early novella by Baudelaire and all his prose poetry. The novella, La Fanfarlo is a mocking study of love and passion and an evocation of the art of dance. There are 50 prose poems.