{"product_id":"ecstasy-book-louis-couperus-9781901285024","title":"Ecstasy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cem\u003eEcstasy\u003c\/em\u003e is a novel of burning passion and agonising restraint. In turn-of the-century Holland, Cecile, a beautiful high-society widow, falls in love with a notorious womanizer, but her desire must remain unspoken.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of Couperus's most powerful novels. A brilliant observer of fin-de-siècle Dutch society, his works are characterised by perfect characterisation, exquisite description and a mordant wit, which brought comparisons to Oscar Wilde.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Couperus binds both irony and spiritual redemption. '\u003cbr\u003e— \u003cem\u003eThe Daily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Couperus' sympathy for the hybrid, the impure and the ambiguous gave him a peculiarly modern voice. It is extraordinary that this Dutch dandy, writing in the flowery language of fin-de-siecle decadence, should still sound so fresh.'\u003cbr\u003e— Ian Buruma, \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times Review of Books\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLouis Couperus\u003c\/strong\u003e (1863–1923), regarded as one of the foremost figures in Dutch literature, was a leading member of the \u003cem\u003eTachtigers\u003c\/em\u003e movement. Born in the Hague, Couperus was taken by his family to the Dutch East Indies as a child, where he remained until his father's death. His other novels include \u003cem\u003eEline Vere\u003c\/em\u003e (1889), \u003cem\u003eEcstasy\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003eExtaze: Een boek van geluk\u003c\/em\u003e, 1892), \u003cem\u003eInevitable\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003eLangs lijnen van geleidelijkheid\u003c\/em\u003e, 1900), and \u003cem\u003eThe Hidden Force\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003eDe Stille Kracht\u003c\/em\u003e, 1900), all of which are available from Pushkin Press. A renowned wit, raconteur and commentator, Couperus continued to publish critically and commercially successful work until his death.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49528097866001,"sku":"GOR003600680","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49606736904465,"sku":"GOR010577492","price":18.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1901285022.jpg?v=1751435031","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/products\/ecstasy-book-louis-couperus-9781901285024","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}