The Red Spider

Delphi Fabrice

Translated by Brian Stableford

“Delphi Fabrice” (the pseudonym of Gaston-Henri-Adhémar Risselin, 1877-1937), the most adamant of Jean Lorrain’s disciples, is credited with authoring over one hundred books. None, however, is more bizarre than “The Red Spider”, here presented in English for the first time in a virtuoso translation by Brian Stableford. The novel, seeking to out-Decadent the most decadent of its predecessors, features Andhré Mordann, an ether-drinking hero seemingly modelled on Lorrain himself, who, in this “black, black, black tale”—a tale of true horror and madness—traverses the boulevards of decline, hobnobbing with drunken prostitutes and homosexual strong-men, licentious merrymakers and waterfront idlers—and, of course, the dancer gloved in imperial crimson.

About the Author
“Delphi Fabrice” (the pseudonym of Gaston-Henri-Adhémar Risselin, 1877-1937) began his literary career as an art critic with Les Peintres de Bretagne (1898), before becoming involved in the Decadent Movement, under the aesthetic of which he composed a number of works, including L’Araignée rouge (1903), the one-act drama Clair de lune (1903), which was co-written by Jean Lorrain, Fabrice’s mentor, and La sorcier rouge (1910). Under the need for money, he gradually turned his attention romance novels, novels of adventure geared towards a juvenile audience, and “cine-novels” (adaptations of films into photo-novels). In all, he is credited with writing over 120 books.

Paperback, 206 pages
1st edition: April 27, 2021
ISBN-13: 978-1-64525-062-3
Price: US$17.00

Hardcover, 208 pages. Limited edition of 100 copies.
1st edition: April 27, 2021
Price: US$32.00