À rebours, translated as Against the Grain or Against Nature, is a novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans that is considered a seminal work of the decadent movement. The protagonist, Jean des Esseintes, is a wealthy and disillusioned aristocrat who retreats from society to pursue his own aesthetic and sensual pleasures. The novel explores themes of decadence, artifice, and the rejection of societal norms. À rebours is a complex and introspective work that challenges traditional values and celebrates individualism.
