À rebours, translated as Against Nature or Against the Grain, 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 indulge in his own aesthetic and sensual pleasures. He surrounds himself with rare books, exquisite art, and luxurious objects, creating an artificial and decadent world within his secluded mansion. À rebours explores themes of alienation, ennui, and the rejection of societal norms. Huysmans' novel is a vivid portrayal of the decadent lifestyle and a critique of bourgeois values.
