This collection of poems, "Paris Spleen", is set in the real world, specifically in Paris. The poems are based on Parisian contemporary life, following the style of the prose poems in Aloysius Bertrand's "Gaspard de la nuit". These poems examine poverty and social class, especially "The Toy of the Poor", "The Eyes of the Poor", "Counterfeit Money" and "Let's Beat Up the Poor".