
REMY DE GOURMONT
The work opens with a playful letter addressed to an Amazonian muse, in which the narrator—a satyr with a sharp, instinctive mind—explains his purpose. He positions himself as a foil to reason, wandering through human follies with a child‑like honesty that exposes pretensions. Through witty observations he questions the value of money, the constraints of polite society, and the ease with which people accept their own servitude. His tone is both mischievous and oddly compassionate, inviting listeners into his wandering thoughts.
Early in the collection he recounts a scandal involving a young pair of street urchins who, despite poverty, find solace in each other's company. The authorities separate them, sparking a commentary on how society bursts into moral outrage over simple affection. These episodes blend gentle humor with sharp criticism, giving a glimpse of the satyr’s yearning for a broader stage where instinct and conscience can meet. Listeners will find a rich tapestry of irony and tender reflection.
Language
fr
Duration
~1 hours (114K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Thanks to Carlo Traverso, Laurent Vogel and the Distributed Proofreading team at DP-test Italia. (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Release date
2018-11-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1858–1915
A sharp-minded voice of French Symbolism, he wrote with unusual freedom about art, desire, language, and the life of the mind. His essays and fiction helped shape literary debate in France around the turn of the 20th century.
View all books
by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont

by Remy de Gourmont