Edgar Saltus

Born in New York City in 1855, Edgar Saltus became one of the few American writers closely linked with the decadent movement. Britannica describes him as a novelist who embraced the sophisticated cynicism and art-for-art's-sake spirit associated with European Decadents, while Wikipedia notes that he was known for his highly refined prose style.

Saltus studied at Yale and later earned a law degree from Columbia, but he turned to literature instead of legal practice. Alongside novels, he wrote biographies, translations, and philosophical works, including books on pessimism and disenchantment, building a reputation for stylish, urbane writing that stood apart from many of his American contemporaries.

He died in New York City in 1921. Though not as widely read now as some of his peers, Saltus remains an intriguing figure for listeners interested in fin-de-siècle fiction, literary skepticism, and richly mannered prose.