The Spleen of Paris by Charles Baudelaire Summary

Baudelaire, who wrote in the 19th century, earned a dubious reputation for his bizarre, immoral, and even sometimes satanic writing. Beneath his eccentric exterior, however, was a truly modern writer, in the sense that he was keenly aware of the disorder that existed both in the world and himself.

"The Spleen of Paris" is a collection of three very short stories. The first of these is "The Old Clown" which takes place during an unspecified holiday. The spirit of festivity is so infectious that no one is completely immune to it, even the most austere and serious. The narrator finds himself swept up in the holiday celebrations. Through the chaos of dancing, drinking, laughter, and fireworks a clown catches his attention. By itself, seeing a clown at a holiday is nothing...