Books

Paris: Poulet-Malassis & de Broise, 1861. Fine. Poulet-Malassis & de Broise, Paris 1861, 12,1x18,8cm, relié sous étui. - Seconde édition originale. Reliure en demi maroquin marron chocolat à coins, dos très légèrement éclairci à cinq nerfs orné de fleurons dorés, encadrement d'un double filet dorés sur les plats de papier peigné, gardes et contreplats de papier à la cuve, tête dorée. Rousseurs. Notre exemplaire est enrichi d'un portrait de Charles Baudelaire par Félix Bracquemond gravé sur chine, ici en deuxième état. Cette édition, entièrement recomposée par l'auteur, enrichie de 35 nouveaux poèmes et de 55 poèmes « profondément remanié[s] » est considérée à tort comme une édition « en partie originale ». Véritable nouvelle édition originale, cette version des Fleurs du mal est l'aboutissement de la grande œuvre baudelairienne et la seule version retenue par l'Histoire et la littérature. Longtemps considérée comme une…

"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.