
audiobook
ÉMILE VERHAEREN - Les - Villes tentaculaires - PRÉCÉDÉES DES - Campagnes hallucinées - DIX-HUITIÈME ÉDITION
PARIS - MERCVRE DE FRANCE - XXVI, RVE DE CONDÉ, XXVI - MCMXX
A. VICTOR DESMETH - EN SOUVENIR
AU POÈTE - HENRI DE RÉGNIER
The opening plunges listeners into a sprawling metropolis that feels alive like a massive, smoky octopus. Streets coil around towering factories, iron bridges and glowing lanterns, while the clatter of trains and the hiss of naphtha create a relentless, almost musical hum. Through vivid, lyrical description the city becomes a character itself—simultaneously dazzling, oppressive, and strangely seductive.
In contrast, the narrative then drifts toward the open plains, where weary travelers and creaking carts move under a low, clouded sky. This shift invites reflection on the tension between relentless urban growth and the quiet endurance of rural life. As the story unfolds, listeners follow a handful of observers navigating both worlds, grappling with the allure of progress and the longing for simplicity.
Language
fr
Duration
~1 hours (110K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
May 5, 2014
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1855–1916
A leading voice of European Symbolism, his poems brought together rural memory, modern city life, and a strong social conscience. Writing in French from Belgium, he became widely admired for energetic verse that helped shape modern poetry.
View all books
by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren

by Emile Verhaeren