THE TORTURE GARDEN
Octave Mirbeau, trans. Michael Richardson (Dedalus)
Originally published in 1899, writer and political activist Octave Mirbeau’s avant-garde classic is both a savage takedown of the bourgeoisie and a surreal study in kinkiness. Although hard going at the beginning, its dense satire on murder and 19th century French politics gives way to a compelling second half where the anti-hero narrator travels to the luscious garden of a Chinese prison with his mistress, Clara. There, a horror story of extreme torture plays out amid the cherry trees and hibiscus, much to the delight of Clara. Not everyone will be taken with Mirbeau’s heady mix of stylised sadism and anarchic rage, but if fin-de-siècle decadence is your cup of tea, look no further than this forgotten curio. Bonkers? Yes – but deserving of this latest reprint.
words Alice Hughes
Price: £9.99. Info: www.dedalusbooks.com