The Dedalus Book of French Horror: The 19th Century
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4 Julia Soemias Bassania, mother of the Roman emperor Heliogabalus. Heliogabalus’s short reign (A.D. 218–22) was a matter of some speculation among fin-de-siècle authors (particularly Rémy de Gourmont, J.-K. Huysmans and Lorrain). In brief, Heliogabalus, who was reputed to have been endowed with an Antinous-like beauty, did not reach Rome (in the company of his mother) until the second year of his reign. For the next three years, the city is said to have witnessed unparalleled scenes of debauchery associated with their religious practices.
5 François Koenigstein, though he is better known under his mother’s name of Ravachol, was a French anarchist responsible for several bombings in the early 1890s. He was executed on July 11,1892.
Sources/Translators
Frenetic Tales
1 Frédéric Soulié: The Lamp of Saint Just (La Lampe de Saint-Just).
First published in L’Europe littéraire, March 3, 1833; first published in book form in Le Port de Créteil, 2 vols (Paris: Dumont, 1833).
Translated by Liz Heron.
2 Eugène Sue: A True Account of the Travels of Claude Belissan, Clerk to the Public Prosecutor (Relation véritable des Voyages de Claude Belissan, clerc de procureur).
From: La Coucaratcha, 4 vols (Paris: Canel et Guyot, 1832–34).
Translated by Terry Hale.
3 Alexandre Dumas: Solange.
From: Les Mille et un Fantômes, 2 vols (Paris: Cadot, 1849), chapters VI and VII.
This anonymous translation originally appeared in The London Journal in 1849.
4 Pétrus Borel: Monsieur de l’Argentière, Public Prosecutor (Monsieur de l’Argentière, l’accusateur).
From: Champavert, contes immoraux (Paris: Renduel, 1833).
Translated by Terry Hale; verse translation by Stanley Chapman.
5 Alphonse Royer: The Covetous Clerk.
Extract from Les marvais garçons 2 vols (Paris: Renduel, 1829).
The title employed here has been added by the translator.
Translated by Terry Hale.
6 Xavier Forneret: One Eye Between Two (Un oeil entre deux yeux).
From: Pièce de pièces, temps perdu (Paris: E. Duverger, 1840).
Translated by Liz Heron.
Contes cruels
7 Marquis de Sade: Dorci, or The Vagaries of Chance (Dorci, ou la bizarrerie du sort).
Published posthumously in 1881 (Paris: Charavay frères), some sixty-seven years after the author’s death.
Translated by Terry Hale
8 Charles Baudelaire: Mademoiselle Scalpel (Mademoiselle Bistouri).
Declined by La Revue national et étrangère in 1867, this story was first published posthumously in volume IV of Baudelaire’s Oeuvres complètes (1869).
Translated by Terry Hale.
9 Catulle Mendès: The Penitent (La Pénitente).
From: Monstres Parisiens, 2 vols (Paris: Chez tous les libraires, 1883–85).
Translated by Terry Hale.
10 Villiers de l’Isle-Adam: The Astonishing Moutonnet Couple (L’étonnant couple Moutonnet).
From: Chez les passants (Paris: Comptoir d’édition, 1890).
Translated by Terry Hale.
11 Jean Richepin: Constant Guignard (Constant Guignard).
From: Les morts bizarres (Paris: Dreyfous, 1876).
Translated by Terry Hale.
12 Charles Cros: The Hanged Man (Le Pendu).
First published in Théâtre de Campagne, 7e série (Paris: Ollendorf, 1881).
Translated by Liz Heron.
13 Jules Lermina: Monsieur Mathias (Monsieur Mathias).
First published in book form in Nouvelles histoires incroyables (Paris: Savine, 1888).
Translated by Liz Heron.
14 Leon Bloy: A Burnt Offering (La dernière cuite).
First published in book form in Histoires désobligeantes (Paris: Dentu, 1894).
Translated by Terry Hale.
15 J.-K. Huysmans: A Family Treat.
Extract from En rade, first serialised in La Revue indépendante beginning November 1886; first published in book form the following year (Paris: Stock, 1887). This passage was first published separately by André Breton in his Anthologie de l’humour noir in 1940. The title employed here has been added by the translator.
The translation, slightly modified, is taken from Terry Hale’s version of En rade (entitled Becalmed), published by Atlas Press in 1992.
16 Edmond Haraucourt: The Prisoner of His Own Masterpiece (Le prisonnier de son oeuvre).
First published in La Peur (Paris: G. Charpentier, 1907).
Translated by Terry Hale.
Contes fantastiques
17 Jacques Cazotte’s Prophecy as reported by La Harpe.
First published in La Harpe’s Oeuvres choisies et posthumes (Paris: 1806).
Translated by Terry Hale.
18 Charles Nodier: The Story of Hélène Gillet (L’Histoire d’Hélène Gillet).
First published in February 1832 in La Revue de Paris.
Translated by Liz Heron.
19 Gérard de Nerval: The Green Monster (Le Monstre vert).
First published in October 1849 simultaneously in La Silhouette and La Revue comique; first published in book form in Contes et Facéties (Paris: Giraud et Dagneau, 1853).
Translated by Terry Hale.
20 Erckmann-Chatrian: The Invisible Eye (L’Oeil invisible).
First published in November 1857 in L’Artiste; first published in book form in Contes populaires (Paris: Hetzel, 1866).
This (anonymous) translation was originally published in The Polish Jew (London: Ward, Lock and Co., n. d.).
21 Henri Rivière: The Reincarnation of Dr Roger (La seconde vie du Dr Roger).
From: La possédée (Paris: Lévy, 1863).
Translated by Terry Hale.
22 Guy de Maupassant: The Head of Hair (La Chevelure).
First published in May 1884 in Gil Bias; first published in book form in Toine (Paris: E. Flammarion, 1886).
Translated by Terry Hale.
23 Théophile Gautier: Mademoiselle Dafné (Mademoiselle Dafné de Montbriand, eau-forte dans la manière de Piranèse).
First published under the above title in La Revue du XIXe siècle (April 1, 1866); reprinted as Le Prince Lothario in La Gazette de Paris (April, 1872); first published in book form as Mademoiselle Dafné (Paris: Charpentier, 1881).
Translated by Liz Heron.
24 Jean Lorrain: One Possessed (Un Démoniaque).
From: Un Démoniaque (Paris: Dentu, 1895).
Translated by Liz Heron.
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Publishing History
First published i
First Dedalus edition in 1998
First ebook edition in 2013
Selection, introduction & notes copyright © Terry Hale 1998
Translation copyright © Terry Hale & Liz Heron 1998
The right of Terry Hale to identified as the editor of this work & Terry Hale and Liz Heron to be identified as the translators of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
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