The Poems and Prose Poems of Charles Baudelaire with an Introductory Preface by James Huneker

A striking anthology that gathers the most celebrated verses of a poet whose work reshaped modern lyricism. Within its pages lie haunting portraits of night‑lit Paris, sensuous meditations on art, love, and decay, and the infamous “Spleen” that captures the restless yearning of a restless soul. The collection moves fluidly from the lyrical elegance of “The Balcony” and “Correspondences” to the stark, almost cinematic intensity of “The Death of Lovers,” offering a kaleidoscope of moods that range from ecstatic beauty to bitter melancholy.

Accompanying these poems is a thoughtful introductory essay that situates the poet’s restless genius amid the myths and controversies that have surrounded him. It explores his self‑crafted image as both dandy and outcast, shedding light on the cultural currents that informed his fascination with the grotesque and the sublime. Listeners will find the prose poems especially compelling—compact, vivid vignettes that blur the line between narrative and lyric, inviting a deep, contemplative listening experience.