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He had become the dandy of the unpredictable. A quest for new sensations- and an avowed desire to shock possessed the Decadent writers of fin-de-siecle Paris. The years 1880-1900 saw an extraordinary- hothouse flowering of talent- that produced some of the most exotic- stylized- and cerebral literature in the French language. While Decadence was a European movement- its epicentre was the French capital. On the eve of Freuds early discoveries- writers such as Gourmont- Lorrain- Maupassant- Mirbeau- Richepin- Schwob- and Villiers engaged in a species of wild analysis of their own- perfecting the art of short fiction as they did so. Death and Eros haunt these pages- and a polymorphous perversity by turns hilarious and horrifying. Their stories teem with addicts- maniacs- and murderers as they strive to outdo each other. This newly translated selection brings together the very best writing of the period- from lesser known figures as well as famous names. Provocative and unsettling- these extraordinary- corrosive little tales continue to cast a cold eye on the modern world.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford Worlds Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxfords commitment to scholarship- providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features- including expert introductions by leading authorities- helpful notes to clarify the text- up-to-date bibliographies for further study- and much more....