Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the author
OK
Baudelaire's Revenge: A Novel Hardcover – April 15, 2014
It is 1870, and Paris is in turmoil.
As the social and political turbulence of the Franco-Prussian War roils the city, workers starve to death while aristocrats seek refuge in orgies and séances. The Parisians are trapped like rats in their beautiful city but a series of gruesome murders captures their fascination and distracts them from the realities of war. The killer leaves lines from the recently deceased Charles Baudelaire's controversial anthology Les Fleurs du Mal on each corpse, written in the poet's exact handwriting. Commissioner Lefevre, a lover of poetry and a veteran of the Algerian war, is on the case, and his investigation is a thrilling, intoxicating journey into the sinister side of human nature, bringing to mind the brooding and tense atmosphere of Patrick Susskind's Perfume. Did Baudelaire rise from the grave? Did he truly die in the first place? The plot dramatically appears to extend as far as the court of the Emperor Napoleon III.
A vivid, intelligent, and intense historical crime novel that offers up some shocking revelations about sexual mores in 19th century France, this superb mystery illuminates the shadow life of one of the greatest names in poetry.
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPegasus Books
- Publication dateApril 15, 2014
- Dimensions6.4 x 1 x 9.3 inches
- ISBN-101605985481
- ISBN-13978-1605985480
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Review
Beautifully written and deftly translated, Baudelaire's Revenge mixes the mystery of the crime novel with the sophistication of a philosophical treatise. (Historical Novel Society)
Baudelaire's Revenge works because Van Laerhoven has created so many characters whose inner lives are as darkly fascinating as Baudelaire's own poetry. (...) it is a journey worth taking to the heart of a strange, death-obsessed place where a dead poet still dwells in his writing... (William Martin - Washington Independent Review of Books)
Without question, this is an extraordinary book. It is unfair simply to call it well-written. The prose is lush. (...)The characters are what make the book. Their inner demons, their wild, dark drives and creative imaginations take us inside Baudelaire in a way that is deeply revealing. ( Lawrence J. Epstein - Vine Voice - Amazon )
The plot leads readers into some truly twisted tales of sex and violence, evocative of Baudelaire's own writings and positioned against the true story of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71."Baudelaire's Revenge" is a more disturbing duel with the devil than "The DaVinci Code," with a cast of flawed, tormented characters who would have felt welcome in the company of Baudelaire himself. (Maureen McCarthy - StarTribune )
From the Author
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Pegasus Books (April 15, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1605985481
- ISBN-13 : 978-1605985480
- Item Weight : 14.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.4 x 1 x 9.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,630,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #25,209 in Historical Mystery
- #38,725 in Murder Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Bob van Laerhoven was born on August 8th, 1953 in the sandy soil of Antwerp's Kempen, a region in Flanders (Belgium), bordering to The Netherlands, where according to the cliché 'pig-headed clodhoppers' live. This perhaps explains why he started to write stories at a particularly young age. A number of his stories were published in English, French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Slovenian.
DEBUT
Van Laerhoven made his debut as a novelist in 1985 with "Nachtspel - Night Game." He quickly became known for his 'un-Flemish' style: he writes colorful, kaleidoscopic novels in which the fate of the individual is closely related to broad social transformations. His style slowly evolved in his later novels to embrace more personal themes while continuing to branch out into the world at large. International flair has become his trademark.
AVID TRAVELLER
Bob Van Laerhoven became a full-time author in 1991. The context of his stories isn't invented behind his desk, rather it is rooted in personal experience. As a freelance travel writer, for example, he explored conflicts and trouble-spots across the globe from the early 1990s to 2004. Echoes of his experiences on the road also trickle through in his novels. Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Mozambique, Burundi, Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar... to name but a few.
MASS MURDERS
During the Bosnian war, Van Laerhoven spent part of 1992 in the besieged city of Sarajevo. Three years later he was working for MSF - Doctors without frontiers - in the Bosnian city of Tuzla during the NATO bombings. At that moment the refugees arrived from the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica. Van Laerhoven was the first writer from the Low Countries to be given the chance to speak to the refugees. His conversations resulted in a travel book: "Srebrenica. Getuigen van massamoord - Srebrenica. Testimony to a Mass Murder." The book denounces the rape and torture of the Muslim population of this Bosnian-Serbian enclave and is based on first-hand testimonies. He also concludes that mass murders took place, an idea that was questioned at the time but later proven accurate.
MULTIFACETED OEUVRE
All these experiences contribute to Bob Van Laerhoven's rich and commendable oeuvre, an oeuvre that typifies him as the versatile author of novels, travel stories, theatre pieces, biographies, non-fiction, letters, columns, articles... He is also a prize-winning author: in 2007 he won the Hercule Poirot Prize for best crime-novel of the year with "De Wraak van Baudelaire - Baudelaire's Revenge." "Baudelaire's Revenge" has been published in the USA, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Russia. In 2014, a second French translation of one of his titles has been published in France and Canada. "Le Mensonge d'Alejandro" is set in a fictitious South-American dictatorship in the eighties. The "junta" in this novel is a symbol for the murderous dictatorships in South-America (Chile and Argentine, to mention two) during the seventies and beginning of the eighties. In The Netherlands and Belgium, his novel "De schaduw van de Mol" (The Shadow Of The Mole) was published in November 2015. The novel is set in the Argonne-region of France in 1916. In 2017 followed "Dossier Feuerhand (The Firehand Files), set in Berlin in 1921.
"Baudelaire's Revenge" is the winner of the USA BEST BOOK AWARDS 2014 in the category Fiction: mystery/suspense.
In April 2015 The Anaphora Literary Press published the collection of short stories "Dangerous Obsessions" in the US, Australia, UK, and Canada, in paperback, e-book, and hardcover. "Dangerous Obsessions" was voted "best short story collection of 2015 in The San Diego Book Review. In May 2017, Месть Бодлерa, the Russian edition of "Baudelaire's Revenge" was published. "Dangerous Obsessions" has been published in Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Spanish editions. In January 2018 followed "Heart Fever", a second collection of short stories, published by The Anaphora Literary Press. The collection came out in German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. "Heart Fever" was one of the five finalists - and the only non-American author - of the Silver Falchion Award 2018 in the category "short stories collections." In April 2018, Crime Wave Press (Hong Kong) brought forth the English language publication of "Return to Hiroshima", Brian Doyle's translation of the novel "Terug naar Hiroshima". The British quality review blog "MurderMayhem&More" listed "Return to Hiroshima" in the top ten of international crime novels in 2018. Readers' Favorite gave Five Stars. In August 2021, Next Chapter published "Alejandro's Lie," the English translation of "Alejandro's leugen."
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers praise the writing quality, historical accuracy, and literary detail of the novel. They find it compelling, engrossing, and an award-winning thriller. The book blends history, philosophy, and symbolism in an engaging tale. However, some readers feel the story is dull and a waste of time.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find the writing well-crafted with beautiful phrases and symbolism. The historical and literary details keep readers engaged, making it a powerful political and poetic novel. While some readers recommend reading it at night alone, others mention that the author has truthfully described life and the dark atmosphere of occupied Paris.
"...all of us to 1870 when Paris was in turmoil,a strong political and poetical Novel with great arguments as long as I went through and must to read..." Read more
"...Certainly this novel is worth a quick read. But if masturbating midgets and voyeurism offend you, it might be one to pass up." Read more
"...However, it is a novel to be read with concentration, preferably at night and sitting alone in a darkened room only lighted by a few flickering..." Read more
"...So beautifully written, at times, my heart aches, longs, and feels things stir, as I read on and allow myself to be drawn in by such profound lines..." Read more
Customers find the book engaging with its historical accuracy. They describe it as a compelling tale of mystery and murder, describing it as an engrossing thriller that keeps readers guessing until the end. The book blends rich historical detail with murder and sexual titillation, creating a beautifully woven tapestry of history, poetry, philosophy, and intrigue that keeps the reader entertained until the end.
"Its a Historical fiction by my favorite author, Bob Van Laerhoven, his book 'Baudelaire's Revenge'— has good diversity in its own way, would be it..." Read more
"Not a bad attempt at a mystery/ thriller, but only loosely based on Baudelaire...." Read more
"...A beautifully woven tapestry of history, poetry, philosophy and intrigue. This is what real literature is all about. I highly recommend it." Read more
"...This is historical fiction at it's best. The story takes place in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War (1870 - 1871)...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's philosophy. They find it explores history, philosophy, gastronomy, and crime. The book is described as poetic with great arguments.
"...He has visited through out the world, researched ups and Downs of life, entered and felt different civilizations of the world, visited War-thorn..." Read more
"...novel is very well accomplished, with many beautiful phrases and much symbolism...." Read more
"...A beautifully woven tapestry of history, poetry, philosophy and intrigue. This is what real literature is all about. I highly recommend it." Read more
"...'s Revenge is a beautifully dark tale of many threads of history, philosophy, gastronomy and crime expertly interwoven...." Read more
Customers find the book boring and unengaging. They describe it as a waste of time, one-dimensional, and difficult to care about.
"...Anyway, a huge disappointment and at least for me...too gross." Read more
"...Didn't complete book and deleted it utterly. Waste of time!" Read more
"...characters, the Commissioner and the INspector, are one-dimensional, boring, and extremely hard to care about!..." Read more
"...Then I started to read it. I found it. . . . .fussy and dull. Baudelaire was neither." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2015Its a Historical fiction by my favorite author, Bob Van Laerhoven, his book 'Baudelaire's Revenge'— has good diversity in its own way, would be it took years for him to construct this Ideas. Long as I knew he is a traveler and a great fan of History—I too fall to that genre in one or other way,secretly by extreme passion of his mind..I think today I did climb to sheer surprise,as the book dealer surprised me.The colorful book was sent from a vender in America.Such a happy day to spare the joyous moments.'Cultural Days' are coming, some way I realized,to keep myself steady to stand and to read some Brave stuff from since the book I received.This is a great cover,this will take all of us to 1870 when Paris was in turmoil,a strong political and poetical Novel with great arguments as long as I went through and must to read and give an aptly review for this Master craft.Bob would be a happy man now ,who crafted this with much like his throbbing heart.When the work was published he would had reached into happier regions after a successful release.
Bob is unique with his deep Historical knowledge. He has visited through out the world, researched ups and Downs of life, entered and felt different civilizations of the world, visited War-thorn areas of the world, who worked as a messenger,who wants peace and who has the slogan of self-maintanence,toleration and with solid knowledge in politics.He is a genius and a violent fire by words. Look at this Cover of the book, he walking in a Parisian alley of vivid air and I now think its a great coincidence to meet an author of this type—One who writes crime fictions. I admire his talents all the way with his experience of past twenty one years as an independent foreign author.
Bob is talking about a Serial Killer, a criminal atmosphere was originating at Paris at the time of Franco-Prussian War and leaves lines from the recent-deceased Charles Baudelaire's disputable collection Of poems on each Corpse,written with the Poet's exact handwriting—and Commissioner Lefevre,a freak of poems and an expect on Algerian War, is on the case to investigate—Wow! what more ye all need for such a thrill, is the key theme of the book
- Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2015Not a bad attempt at a mystery/ thriller, but only loosely based on Baudelaire. The story itself, involving the murder of various opponents of the French bard, is set against the backdrop of the Prussin invasion of France. The physical state of war torn Paris represents the morality of her people. But detectives Paul and Bernard are willing to face moral ambiguity to capture the murderer.
The writing of the novel is very well accomplished, with many beautiful phrases and much symbolism. But the purpose of the novel is lost in a confusing array of "shock-value" episodes. The novel seems to be addressing moral decline amidst wealth, but the plethora of hermaphroditism, incest, and nun on nun sex is so blatantly contrived that the lesson is lost. Also, character actions often fail to make sense. Paul, the protagonist, seeks a night of brawling after a near-death experience. Then he goes to a party with the people he fought, completely ignoring the fact that he's supposed to be working on a murder investigation. His many flashbacks shed some light on his character, but they certainly fail to explain his actions in the novel.
Certainly this novel is worth a quick read. But if masturbating midgets and voyeurism offend you, it might be one to pass up.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2015A commissioner and an inspector are facing an "unusual murder." On the corpse, they find some of Baudelaire's verses in his proper handwriting. Odd, since the poet died three years earlier.
By telling more about the story, I would betray too much of the plot and that certainly wouldn't be appreciated by the buyer or the reader.
The author has masterfully painted the oppressive atmosphere of the late 19th century without offensive language which we face too often in today's thrillers.
The background of "Baudelaire's revenge" is the 1870, during the Prussian siege of Paris. All happens in a surrounded city where the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie participate to the most imaginable orgies, where artists motivate the population to resistance, where famine and disease are rampant, where even the elephants from zoos find their destination on the menu of the few restaurants, where the narrow dark alleys at night are populated by huge rats.
The protagonists in "Baudelaire's revenge" are marginal, contemporaries of Emile Zola and Victor Hugo, while the author's painting of Paris is much more oppressive than described in "Les miserabels". In this closed city, two policemen are trying to resolve a mysterious murder, which will carry them through all the dark corners of Paris, and even in the court of Emperor Napoleon III.
This story gave me the same sensations as years ago when I read Edgar Allan Poe's frightening stories "The black cat", "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar" and "The murders in the Rue Morgue." I'll never forget them. Is it a coincidence that Baudelaire translated Poe's work?
I can imagine that not everyone will appreciate certain scenes and rites, but it is history that created them, not the author. The author has done a lot of research in order to paint one of the darkest periods in French history as real as possible.
This story certainly deserves the "Hercule Poirot Prize," he received in 2007.
"Baudelaire's revenge" is much more than a literary thriller. It also deserves the logo "historical novel," because the author has truthfully described life and dark atmosphere of occupied Paris in that century. However, it is a novel to be read with concentration, preferably at night and sitting alone in a darkened room only lighted by a few flickering candles, which will create the atmosphere of the book into a personal experience.
For the first time since I read Edgar Allan Poe, I discover a Flemish author that succeeds to give me the same feelings as I got while reading Poe's dark poems. I hope to see one day "Baudelaire's revenge" on the big white screen.
This novel is a must for all those who like literary thrillers.
Top reviews from other countries
- JP McLeanReviewed in Canada on December 20, 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Decadence and Depravity
Baudelaire’s Revenge was recommended by a friend who knew the subject matter wouldn’t scare me away. This historical crime thriller is set in Paris in 1870 under the pressure of the Franco-Prussian War. A series of brutally murdered victims are discovered, and with them, passages inscribed in a dead poet’s handwriting. In taking on the case, Commissioner Lefèvre wades through decadence and depravity in bitter detail.
I enjoyed Van Laerhoven’s writing, as translated from Dutch by Brian Doyle. It’s rich and meaty, filled with time period and place references, which is something I especially enjoy about Historical fiction. It took me a few concerted efforts to get into this book. I put it down often but always picked it up again, curious as to what would happen.
Baudelaire’s Revenge is not an easy read, and it contains some gruesome and troubling scenes, but it would appeal to those interested in the period, especially the darker side of Paris. The writing is superb.
- Carole BrockReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish and perverse...just like Charles Baudelaire was...
Before writing my review, I 've read some of the other customer's reviews. One of them was a bit dissapointed by the "monologues" of the characters at the end of the story and thought they took some "glamour" away from the plot. Well, I have a total different opinion: I find these monologues not only wonderfully written but also very intricate. They give this novel the cachet of literature and simultaneously highlight the mystery. They left me baffled, struggling with the question: who talks the truth, who is a pathological liar? I liked this subtle duality very much. For instance, the "confession'" of the creepy character "Le Maçon" is so far-out, is rendered with such a dubious fluency, but at the same time with so much determination, that you can't help but wonder about Le Maçon's true identity, his sanity and his motives. And what to think about the prostitute Claire de la Lune? Is her fantastic story true? It looks that way, but the author shrewdly keeps on sowing doubts. At the very end of the novel, I wondered if commissioner Lefèvre's view on reality was delusional as a result of the syphilis in his body. All in all, this novel is truly different from other mystery novels I've read. Stylish, perverse (as was Charles Baudelaire), dark, disturbing, in somber tune with Baudelaire's "The Flowers of Evil". Definitely not for readers who're looking for "easy" or "innocent" mysteries: this one explores dark crevices in the human soul. Quite a thrilling ride!
- Josie BoyceReviewed in Canada on January 12, 2017
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting well written
But ultimately kind of disappointing in how it handles a certain character with a gender difference, not to spoil it more than that.kind of a real adventurous mystery at the start, the ending just seemed too deus ex macjina, and the character made evil by their difference.gets a muted fate.