Jean Des Esseintes

Jean Des Esseintes, fictional character, a reclusive aesthete in the novel Against the Grain (1884) by Joris-Karl Huysmans. The last in a depleted line of nobles, Des Esseintes is wealthy and effete, and he grows impotent from dissolution. At age 30 he abandons society to lead a life of experimental sensualism.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.

Citation Information

Article Title: Jean Des Esseintes

Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica

Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Date Published: 07 May 2010

URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Jean-Des-Esseintes

Access Date: February 22, 2025