Là-Bas

Là-Bas (translated as Down There), published in 1891, is a decadent and controversial novel by J. K. Huysmans exploring Satanism and spiritual despair in fin-de-siècle France. The protagonist, Durtal, disillusioned with modern society, delves into the life of Gilles de Rais and contemporary occultism. The novel’s detailed descriptions of black masses and esoteric rituals caused scandal but fascinated readers. With its blend of aestheticism, horror, and mysticism, Là-Bas marks Huysmans’s transition from decadence to religious conversion and remains a seminal work of dark French literature.