The flowers of evil

Description

[This book] shocked the literary world of nineteenth-century France with its outspoken portrayal of lesbian love, its linking of sexuality and death, its unremitting irony, and its unflinching celebration of the steamy side of urban life. The volume was seized by the policy, and [the author] and his publisher were tried for offence to public decency. Six poems were banned, in a conviction that was not overturned until 1949.-Back cover.;Spleen and the ideal: Benediction; 'I love the thought ... '; Enemy; Don Juan in hell; Mask; 'You'd entertain the universe ... '; De profundis clamavi; Cat; Completely one; Confession; Misty sky; Conversation; Praises for my Francisca; Sorrows of the moon; Burial; Spleen; Clock -- Parisian scenes: Landscape; To a red-haired beggar girl; Seven old men; Blind; Skeletons digging; Gaming; Love of illusion; 'That kind heart you were jealous of ... '; Dawn -- Wine: Soul of wine; Murderer's wine; Lovers' wine -- Flowers of evil: Destruction; Lesbos; Condemned women; Fountain of blood; Beatrice; Voyage to Cythera -- Revolt: St. Peter's denial; Abel and Cain; Litanies of Satan -- Death: Death of lovers; Death of artists; Dream of a curious man --- Waifs: Setting of the romantic sun; Gallantries, Fountain; Epigraphs, Poem on the portrait of honoré Daumier; Diverse pieces, Voice; Buffooneries, On the début of Amina Boschetti -- Additional poems from the third edition of the Flowers of evil (1868): Epigraph for a condemned book; Prayer of a pagan; Midnight examination; Cautioner; Very far from France; Lament of an Icarus; Insulted moon. Spleen and the ideal: Benediction 'I love the thought ... ' Enemy Don Juan in hell Mask 'You'd entertain the universe ... ' De profundis clamavi Cat Completely one Confession Misty sky Conversation Praises for my Francisca Sorrows of the moon Burial Spleen Clock -- Parisian scenes: Landscape To a red-haired beggar girl Seven old men Blind Skeletons digging Gaming Love of illusion 'That kind heart you were jealous of ... ' Dawn -- Wine: Soul of wine Murderer's wine Lovers' wine -- Flowers of evil: Destruction Lesbos Condemned women Fountain of blood Beatrice Voyage to Cythera -- Revolt: St. Peter's denial Abel and Cain Litanies of Satan -- Death: Death of lovers Death of artists Dream of a curious man --- Waifs: Setting of the romantic sun Gallantries, Fountain Epigraphs, Poem on the portrait of honoré Daumier Diverse pieces, Voice Buffooneries, On the début of Amina Boschetti -- Additional poems from the third edition of the Flowers of evil (1868): Epigraph for a condemned book Prayer of a pagan Midnight examination Cautioner Very far from France Lament of an Icarus Insulted moon.