Wormwood: A Drama of Paris

This was a very good book, the punctuation took a little getting used to, but the story was very good.

In 1890 Marie Corelli published her fifth novel, "Wormwood: A Drama of Paris". After moving considerably closer to Fantasy in "Ardath", Marie returns to her gothic/occult romance style with this book. The subject of the book is the degredation of society through the vice of drinking, and specifically drinking Absinthe (a.k.a. grande wormwood or la fée verte (the Green Fairy), a spirit which was thought to be addictive and a psychoactive drug and to cause madness over time. As a result, it was attacked by conservatives and prohibitionists and was eventually banned for a time in many countries. The person addicted, or the `absentheur' in this story is Gaston Beauvais, the narrator of the story. I have read that this novel is broken into three parts, but the copy of it which I read did not do so. The narrative of the story is told by Gaston from a point after he has destroyed his life and the lives of those around him, looking back on the road which brought him to this point. Gaston starts the novel as a young man who has everything going for him. He is successful in business, working for his father for a bank. His father's close friend is the Comte de Charmilles, and Gaston courts the Comte's daughter Pauline. Gaston is completely taken in by Pauline's beauty, and barely notices Pauline's closest friend and relation Héloïse, who is her cousin. Gaston takes his time in courting Pauline, even after he is resolved to marry her. It is at the same time as he intends to propose that Silvion Guidél, the nephew of the Curé comes to live with the Curé's house. In a rather forced piece of foreshadowing, Gaston takes a dislike to Silvion at the instant he first hears the name. Gaston proposes and his proposal is accepted, and as time passes and the wedding grows closer, there are more and more signs that there is an issue arising between Pauline and Silvion, but in typical Corelli fashion Gaston fails to notice anything wrong despite a narrative which could only be told by someone who was incredibly observant. At last, Pauline confesses to Gaston and pleads that he will do nothing to Silvion for honor's sake. Gaston struggles with what to do and after finally deciding to step aside he is convinced by an artist friend, André Gessonex to try absinthe, an event which completely changes Gaston's mind and he decides that he must have revenge and destroy the lives of Silvion and Pauline. One can easily see how this would be the end of the first section of the book. The second section would likely be the period in which Gaston keeps his new found obsession secret while he gets his revenge. He intends to immediately challenge Silvion, but finds that Silvion has run away back to his parents home away from Paris and that he has also decided to immediately become a priest. He keeps this information from Pauline and tells her that they should keep the situation secret for now and proceed as if they still intend to be married. Pauline trusts him but a

Corelli is a wonderful writer and it is about time her books receive the academic notice they deserve. There is an unfortunate academic snobbery that smells of if-it-isn't-Joyce-it's-not-literature in many circles. Get Over Yourselves! This book, and the Victorian Sensation Fiction movement that produced it, is wonderful! Take off the seat-belt and return to reading for the pure joy of it. Wormwood is a blast to read- hyperbolic, overblown, yes! The monkey-boy is worth the price of the book alone, but then add on the creepy trips to the Paris mortuary, the weird violinist, and crazed, absinthe induced tripping, and the book is a total delight! (seriously, it should come with a sound track as you read- You can almost hear the BUM-BUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM of an orchestra at key points, Oh Pauline!!!! Don't JUMP!) The intro is well written and informative- It's great to see Corelli get noticed again. She was a incredibly strong woman with a powerful imagination. Bring it on! (Grad students... are you listening? There is a TON of unchartered territory in Corelli- Great thesis topics abound in her books!) this edition rocks!