Release date is 2014-11-25

A sentimental education: Henry Beyle-Stendhal -- The Baudelaire legend -- The real Flaubert -- Anatole France -- The pessimists' progress: J.K. Huysmans -- The evolution of an egoist: Maurice Barrès -- Phases of Nietzsche -- The will to suffer -- Nietzsche's apostasy -- Antichrist? -- Mystics -- Ernest Hello -- "Mad naked Blake" -- Francis Poictevin -- The road to Damascus -- From an ivory tower -- Ibsen -- Max Stirner.

Produced by Marc D'Hooghe (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.)

"Egoists, A Book of Supermen" by James Huneker is a collection of literary essays written in the early 20th century. The book explores prominent figures in literature and philosophy, including Stendhal, Flaubert, and Nietzsche, highlighting their contributions and idiosyncrasies. Through a critical lens, Huneker delves into the intricacies of their lives and works, examining the traits that set them apart as "supermen" in the literary canon. The opening of the collection introduces the first essay, focusing on Henry Beyle, better known as Stendhal. Huneker paints a vivid portrait of Stendhal, contrasting his delicate psychological insights with his unremarkable physical appearance. The text discusses Stendhal's duality as a passionate lover and cynical observer, emphasizing how his seemingly contradictory nature informed his writing. The essay sets the tone for the subsequent pieces, suggesting a rich exploration of the complex interplay between personality, creativity, and the societal contexts in which these literary figures existed. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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