Pierre Louÿs fut un poète et écrivain français, célébré pour sa quête d'« exprimer la sensualité païenne avec perfection stylistique ». Ses œuvres explorent fréquemment des thèmes lesbiens et classiques, témoignant d'une profonde adhésion à l'élégance formelle. Tout au long de sa carrière, Louÿs cultiva des amitiés avec d'éminents artistes et compositeurs de son époque. Ses contributions significatives à la littérature française furent reconnues par ses nominations comme Chevalier puis Officier de la Légion d'honneur.
J'arrive : la grille était fermée aux barres. Je sonne : apres quelques
instants, Concha descend, et me sourit. Elle portait une jupe toute rose, un
petit châle couleur de creme et deux grosses fleurs rouges aux cheveux. A la
vive clarté de la nuit, je voyais chacun de ses traits. Elle approcha de la
grille, toujours souriante et sans hâte : 'Baisez mes mains', me dit-elle. La
grille demeurait fermée. 'A présent, baisez le bas de ma jupe, et le bout de
mon pied sous la mule.' Sa voix était comme radieuse. Elle reprit : 'C'est
bien. Maintenant, allez-vous-en.'»
This collection features seven mildly erotic stories rooted in mythology, showcasing Pierre Louÿs's exquisite retelling of these legends. Originally published in limited editions in Paris from 1893 to 1898, the narratives highlight his remarkable literary craftsmanship, blending imaginative artistry with delicate themes. While less sensational than some of his other works, these stories stand out for their subtlety and emotional depth, offering a sympathetic exploration of timeless myths.
These passionate verses were published in 1894 as the lost works of a disciple of Sappho. Although debunked as a work of antiquity, they remain an erotic celebration of sexual freedom. This hardcover edition features a translation from the original French edition, annotations, and more than 160 sensual illustrations by Willy Pogány. Contains adult material.
By turns amusing and offensive, Pierre Louÿs' Pybrac is possibly the filthiest collection of poetry ever published, and offers a taste of what the Marquis de Sade might have produced if he had ever turned his hand to verse. First published posthumously in 1927, Pybrac was, with The Young Girl's Handbook of Good Manners, one of the first of Louÿs' secret erotic manuscripts to see clandestine publication. Composed of 313 rhymed alexandrine quatrains, the majority of them starting with the phrase "I do not like to see...," Pybrac is in form a mockery of sixteenth-century chancellor poet Guy Du Faur, Seigneur de Pibrac, whose moralizing quatrains were common literary fare for young French readers until the nineteenth century. Louÿs spent his life coming up with his own ever-growing collection of rhymed moral precepts (suitable only for adult readers): a dizzying litany describing everything he "disliked" witnessing, from lesbianism, sodomy, incest and prostitution to perversions extreme enough to give even a modern reader pause. With the rest of his erotic manuscripts, the original collection of over 2,000 quatrains was auctioned off and scattered throughout private collections; but like everything erotic, what remains, collected here, conveys an impression of unending absurdity and near-hypnotic obsession.
This antiquarian book offers a facsimile reprint of the original text, preserving its historical significance. While it may include imperfections like marks and notations due to its age, the reprint aims to maintain the integrity of the original work. The publisher emphasizes the cultural importance of this text and is dedicated to making classic literature accessible through high-quality, affordable editions.
