In the late 19th century, a group of writers across Europe challenged artistic and social convention to create stories steeped in transgression, sensuality and obsession.

Their work was radical, daring and controversial, and it captured a unique feeling and exciting atmosphere. Rich with aesthetic hedonism, this anthology showcases the very best short stories from the movement.

In ‘The Nightingale and the Rose’, Oscar Wilde expertly captures the decadent mood when a young student laments the futility of art; Vernon Lee tells the story of a mysterious and beautiful woman who brings strange misfortune to a coastal village in ‘Dionea’; ‘A Funeral Oration’ by Jean Lorrain oozes with excess and indulgence; ‘Enoch Soames’ grapples with the fin-de-siècle fear of leaving no legacy. From famous to lesser-known writers, there is no shortage of drama, darkness and decay in this riveting collection.

Classic Stories from the Age of Decadence is part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library: a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics bound in cloth with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited and introduced by writer and academic Jane Desmarais.