"Nothing is better for one's physical health than cold egotism; everything keeps better on ice."

#AmReading THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS by #EugèneSue

#Books #Literature #TranslatedFiction

At The White Rabbit Inn, a seedy tavern run by the ogress, or ex-con, Old Lady Ponisse, & frequented by criminals, thugs, & disreputable types, the drinks have wonderful names:

"On the wall were several glass flasks...These bottles contained adulterated pink and green liquids that went by the names of 'Perfect Love' and 'Consolation'."

I'm up for a glass of Perfect Love or Consolation.

#AmReading THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS by #EugèneSue

#Books #Literature #TranslatedFiction #Bookstodon

"This opening should alert readers to the sinister scenes that await them. If they proceed, they will find themselves in strange places, foul urban abscesses that teem with criminals as terrifying & revolting as swamp creatures..Let us reassure our readers that once they begin this story, with each step on its way, the air becomes purer."

From the opening chapter of THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS by #EugèneSue, tr. by Carolyn Betensky & Jonathan Loesberg.

A sensational forewarning & assurance. I'm in!

My brother was travelling in the UK & offered to get me a few #books I was going to order from there to save me the postage cost. I pushed my luck: one was a 1,359 page brick of a novel adding an extra 1.1 kilos to his luggage.

THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS by French writer #EugèneSue was serialised b/w June 1842 & Oct 1843. "For 16 months, Parisians rushed in droves to the newsstands each week for the latest installment."

It has 167 short chapters. Reading one per day, it should take me six months.