Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

Balladeer’s Blog resumes its examination of the macabre 1868 French language work The Songs of Maldoror.

CANTO SIX: STANZA SIX

Maldoror is in his lair in Paris, observing himself in a mirror. He recalls how he used to have a third eye in the center of his forehead but ages ago a female cat pounced on him and chewed it out. This was done as revenge on Maldoror for the way he boiled the cat’s litter of kittens to death in a pot full of alcohol. (What kind of wine goes with cat meat?)

Maldoror then ponders the rest of his heavily scarred face and body, reflecting on the damage he and God have inflicted on each other in their long war against each other. In his usual insane way the supernatural being considers himself as “beautiful” as congenital birth defects are beautiful; as “beautiful” as genitals ravaged by venereal disease. Continue reading →

Balladeer’s Blog resumes its examination of the macabre 1868 French language work The Songs of Maldoror.

CANTO SIX: STANZA FOUR

Maldoror and Mervyn, drawn by Monsieur Le Six.

I’ve decided the Stanzas of this final Canto don’t merit individual titles. Too little happens in each as the story of Maldoror preying on the 16 year old youth named Mervyn proceeds incrementally.

The previous episode ended with Maldoror tracking Mervyn to his home on the Rue Lafayette. The young man now flees inside, fearful of the unknown presence he felt following him through the gaslit streets of Paris (left deserted after dark by Maldoror’s ongoing reign of terror). Continue reading →