Books

Les Fleurs du Mal Charles Baudelaire Vingt-sept compositions par Georges Rochegrosse Gravees a l eau-forte par Eugene Decisy Paris. Librairie des Amateurs. A. Ferroud F. Ferroud. 1910. Originally published in paper wraps. This copy has been rebound in very beautiful three quarters leather (black) with patterned paper over boards. Marbled endpapers. Leather binding has raised cords, gold lettering on the spine and a floral emblem (could it be a pineapple?) done in inlaid leather in three colors. The original wraps are bound in. A limited edition of 1,200 copies. This is copy number 990. It is initialled and numbered by the publisher on the limitation page. 292 pages. Handcolored emblem on the front cover and another on the title page. Measures 6.5 x 9.5 inches. Printed on fine Arches paper. Very good condition. We are pleased to be listing a collection of over 200 volumes from Librairie des Amateurs series published by Ferroud. If you are interested in multiple volumes, we would be more than happy to send you our catalog of this beautiful collection.

"Les Fleurs du mal" (The Flowers of Evil) is a seminal work by Charles Baudelaire, first published in 1857. It stands as one of the most influential collections of poetry in the modernist movement, exploring the complexities of beauty, decadence, and the ephemeral nature of happiness within the urban landscape of 19th-century Paris. Baudelaire delves into themes of love, despair, existential angst, and the search for transcendence, using vivid imagery and innovative poetic techniques to convey his insights and emotions. The collection is renowned for its exploration of the concept of "spleen," a term Baudelaire uses to describe a deep sense of melancholy and disillusionment. This mood is contrasted with the "Ideal," representing moments of beauty, joy, and spiritual elevation. "Les Fleurs du mal" captures the duality of human experience—the coexistence of light and darkness, purity and corruption. Baudelaire's poems navigate the reader through the gritty realities of urban life, touching on themes of alienation, moral decadence, and the impact of industrialization, while also seeking beauty in the mundane and the morbid. Baudelaire's work caused a scandal upon its release, leading to a public obscenity trial and the condemnation of six of the poems, which were only reinstated in later editions after his death. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, "Les Fleurs du mal" has endured as a masterpiece of French literature, influencing countless poets and artists with its complex portrayal of human nature and its pioneering use of symbolist imagery. Through "Les Fleurs du mal," Baudelaire not only reshaped the landscape of poetic form and expression but also offered a haunting, visionary response to the discontents of modern life.