The Desperate Man

The Desperate Man (first published in 1887) is arguably the French decadent novel par excellence of the 19^th century. It is also Léon Bloyʼs first novel and a seminal work which, as such, planted the seeds of just about every other important theme or topic that the author would later develop in subsequent works throughout his life and career. Life is rain water for talented writers; and habitual poverty for Bloy acted as the mulch.

There is in The Desperate Man the seed of satire, which was ...