The Civilized - Decadence and Damnation in French Indochina

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In 1905, the prestigious Prix Goncourt judges awarded the prize to a novel by then-unknown French naval officer, Claude Farrere. Their decision ignited furious debates in literary circles. Set in colonial Saigon, The Civilized exposed the dark underbelly of France's "civilizing mission" through a graphic tale of addiction, adultery, desire, debauchery, and moral decay. While outraging the establishment, the book captivated readers worldwide. Controversy only fueled the book's success: within six years, The Civilized saw 55 printings, followed by nearly 100 more in eight languages.

Now, 120 years later, DatAsia Press presents the first English-language edition of Farrere's provocative masterwork about moral decay festering at the Empire's edge and featuring Henri LeRiche's stunning 1926 illustrations.

An eloquent foreword by distinguished University of Nantes professor Henri Copin and Editor Kent Davis establishes modern context for the nuanced literary translation by Pedro Rodriguez that brings the author's prose to life.

Extensive annotations illuminate the novel's early-20th century colonial setting, along with maps, details of the Goncourt Prize judges, and an analysis of contemporary reviews revealing why this daring expose of the colonial dark side remains as relevant today as when it first scandalized Belle Epoque France.