Louis Couperus Livres

Describes the conventions, manners and hypocrisies of Dutch society.

Louis Marie-Anne Couperus (1863-1923) was a Dutch novelist and poet of the late 19th and early 20th century. He is usually considered one of the foremost figures in Dutch literature. He came to fame with the publication of his first novel Eline Vere (1888), a naturalist work influenced by French novelists like Emile Zola and Gustave Flaubert. His 1891 novel Noodlot (Footsteps of Fate) was much admired by Oscar Wilde, and many have noted stylistic similarities between Noodlot and Wilde's 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Couperus attained popularity with his novels Majesteit (Majesty, 1893) and Wereldvrede (World Peace, 1895), both set among royals in modern Europe, threatened with anarchism. Also his fairy tale Psyche (1898) has often been reprinted. His other works include: De Stille Kracht (The Hidden Force, 1900), Berg van Licht (The Mountain of Light, 1906), De Boeken der Kleine Zielen (The Books of the Small Souls, 1901-1902) and Van Oude Menschen, de Dingen, die Voorbij gaan... (Old People and the Things that Pass, 1906).

Cornelie De Retz Van Loo, a twenty-three-year-old divorcee meets the Dutch painter Duco van der Staal, and they move in together. Duco and Cornelie are happy but poor. In desperation, Cornelie takes a position as a companion to an elderly American lady, where she encounters her ex-husband, and succumbs to his continuing power over her.

Exploring themes of isolation and emotional turmoil, this psychological novel follows Eline, a withdrawn woman battling depression. After accepting and then breaking off a marriage proposal, she becomes fixated on her charismatic cousin Vincent, who remains indifferent to her affections. As Eline travels and dreams, her mental state deteriorates, culminating in a potential overdose during a crisis at a hotel in The Hague. This new translation by award-winning Ina Rilke brings fresh life to Couperus's poignant narrative, highlighting his literary significance.

A Story of Modern Java. This picture of life in the Dutch East Indies at the turn of the 19th century was first published in the original Dutch in 1900 and is reprinted from the English translation which appeared in 1922.

This work is recognized as significant throughout human history and has been preserved through modern republishing efforts. The text has been reformatted and retyped to ensure clarity and readability, avoiding the pitfalls of scanned copies. This edition aims to make the content accessible to both present and future generations, highlighting its enduring importance.

The book is a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, preserving its historical significance despite potential imperfections like marks and notations. It aims to protect and promote cultural literature by providing an affordable, high-quality edition that remains faithful to the original text.

The book is recognized as a significant work throughout human history, and efforts have been made to preserve it for future generations by republishing it in a modern format. This initiative aims to ensure that its essential themes and insights remain accessible and relevant.