Garden of Suffering.

 

Octave Mirbeau (1848-1917) - a writer who experienced the influence of decadence and anarchism in the second half of the 19th century. This influence can be observed by the reader in the provocative novel "Garden of Suffering" (1899) - a... harsh critique of European colonial society. The main manifesto of the book: civilization is built on murder and sadism, but hypocritically denies its foundation. This is dedicated to the first part of the book. The plot of the second part unfolds far from Europe, in China. The main character, a Frenchman, and an Englishwoman Clara embark on a journey to the East. By their own choice, they find themselves in a garden where torture is practiced as an art. Amid ecstasy, pain, and death, the main character realizes that his companion knows no limits, but he himself capitulates, reflecting on the limits of human experience and sensations.