Decadent Plays: 1890–1930: Salome; The Race of Leaves; The Orgy: A Dramatic Poem; Madame La Mort; Lilith; Ennoia: A Triptych; The Black Maskers; La Gioconda; Ardiane and Barbe Bleue or, The Useless Deliverance; Kerria Japonica; The Dove

Decadent plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries explored nonconformist identities and beliefs, challenging behavioral norms and the desirability of modern progress. This edited anthology is an authoritative and accessible introduction to a fast-expanding field of decadent literature, featuring canonical and little-known works by Oscar Wilde, Michael Field, Lesya Ukrainka, Rachilde, Remy de Gourmont, Jean Lorrain, Leonid Andreyev, Gabriele DAnnunzio, Maurice Maeterlinck, Izumi Kyoka, and Djuna Barnes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a wave of decadence swept through the world of drama, challenging the moral and imaginative boundaries of its time. Writers and dramatists embraced this aesthetic, using it to explore nonconformist identities and beliefs that defied societal norms. Decadent plays were characterized by their celebration of antiquity, their forward-thinking themes, and their willingness to offend and challenge conventions.

This edited anthology, "Decadent Plays: 1890 to 1930," is a comprehensive introduction to this pivotal period in modern drama. It features canonical and lesser-known works by renowned writers such as Oscar Wilde, Michael Field, Lesya Ukrainka, Rachilde, Remy de Gourmont, Jean Lorrain, Leonid Andreyev, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Maurice Maeterlinck, Izumi Kyoka, and Djuna B. These plays, translated into English for the first time, showcase the diversity and richness of decadent drama.

Decadence as a dramatic sensibility emerged in response to the rapid urbanization and industrialization of the late 19th century. Writers and dramatists sought to escape the constraints of traditional morality and explore the darker aspects of human nature. They celebrated the excess, the sensual, and the forbidden, often juxtaposing these elements with the moral decay of society.

Decadent plays explored a range of themes, including queerness, unconventional eroticism, and critiques of empire and industrial progress. They challenged the notion of traditional gender roles, sexual taboos, and social hierarchies, and offered alternative visions of love, desire, and identity.

Despite their controversial nature, decadent plays continue to resonate with audiences today. They invite us to interrogate our own beliefs and conventions, and to consider the possibilities of a more liberated and expressive theatrical experience. They remind us that the arts have the power to challenge and transform our understanding of the world, and to inspire us to embrace our own unique identities and beliefs.

In conclusion, decadent plays emerged as a response to the challenges of urban modernity and offered a framework for exploring nonconformist identities and beliefs. They celebrated the excess, the sensual, and the forbidden, and challenged the moral and imaginative boundaries of their time. This edited anthology provides an authoritative and accessible introduction to a fast-expanding field of decadent literature, and showcases the diversity and richness of this dramatic sensibility.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350171831