Mr. Incoul’s Misadventure

Mr. Incoul’s Misadventure, published in 1887, is a decadent novel by Edgar Saltus that explores themes of marriage, betrayal, and existential ennui. The story follows Mr. Incoul, a wealthy man who discovers disturbing truths about his young wife, leading to a tragic and ironic conclusion. Saltus’s ornate prose and philosophical overtones reflect the influence of French symbolism and American psychological realism. The novel is a moody, stylized portrayal of love and illusion, characteristic of Gilded Age literary experimentation.