EDGAR SALTUS: COLLECTED WORKS Philosophy, Fiction, and Biography (PDF)
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| Edgar Saltus |
Edgar Saltus (1855 – 1921) was one of America’s most brilliant yet neglected stylists — a writer who fused philosophy, history, and fiction into a single decadent vision of life. His prose shimmered with irony and precision, revealing a mind steeped in pessimism and beauty.
In the late nineteenth century, Saltus stood apart from his contemporaries. While others sought moral uplift, he explored disenchantment, negation, and the collapse of faith. His nonfiction works — The Philosophy of Disenchantment, The Anatomy of Negation, and The Lords of the Ghostland — trace humanity’s struggle between belief and disbelief. His novels, from Mr. Incoul’s Misadventure to The Perfume of Eros, transform that same struggle into stories of passion, ruin, and irony.
Saltus was often dismissed by institutions that favored religious or moral writers. Yet his voice endures as one of the most elegant expressions of intellectual rebellion in American literature. His style, influenced by Schopenhauer, Leopardi, and the French decadents, remains unmatched for its clarity and wit.
This collection restores Saltus’s legacy in full:
- Nonfiction, where he dissects faith and philosophy.
- Fiction, where he dramatizes desire and downfall.
- Biography, where Marie Saltus reveals the man behind the mask.
Nonfiction (Philosophy & History)
- The Lords of the Ghostland (1907)
A sweeping survey of world religions, from ancient mythologies to Christianity. Saltus treats gods and prophets as human inventions, showing how belief systems evolved. His tone is ironic, skeptical, and literary, making this more than a dry history — it’s a critique of faith itself.
- The Anatomy of Negation (1886)
A history of disbelief, tracing atheism and skepticism through figures like Lucretius, Voltaire, and Schopenhauer. Saltus admires those who dismantled religious dogma, presenting negation as a heroic intellectual tradition.
- The Philosophy of Disenchantment (1885)
Saltus’s most famous philosophical work, deeply influenced by Schopenhauer and Leopardi. It argues that life is ruled by suffering and futility, rejecting religious consolation. This book cemented his reputation as an “atheist pessimist.”
- Historia Amoris (1906)
A cultural history of love, from ancient Greece to modern Europe. Saltus explores how love has been idealized, condemned, and transformed across centuries. It’s witty, ironic, and full of literary references.
- Parnassians Personally (1889)
A series of literary portraits of French poets (the Parnassians). Saltus mixes biography, criticism, and anecdote, showing his admiration for French literature and his gift for sharp, stylish commentary.
- The Truth About Tristram (1894)
A critical essay on the medieval romance of Tristram and Iseult. Saltus examines the legend’s themes of love, betrayal, and fatalism, connecting them to broader cultural currents.
- The Pomps of Satan (1904)
A collection of essays on decadence, religion, and moral corruption. Saltus uses Satan as a metaphor for human vanity and excess, blending philosophy with literary flourish.
Imperial Purple (1892)
Nonfiction; flamboyant history of Roman emperors, written in Saltus’s lush, ironic style. A mix of history and decadent commentary.
- New York from the Flatiron (essay, c. early 1900s)
Nonfiction; a cultural sketch of New York City seen from the Flatiron Building. Saltus reflects on modernity, architecture, and society.
- Purple and Fine Women (collection, c. 1890s)
Nonfiction essays; Saltus’s reflections on history, literature, and women, blending irony with decadent observation.
Fiction (Novels & Stories)
- Vanity Square (1908)
A novel of New York society, satirizing ambition, wealth, and social climbing. Saltus exposes the emptiness behind fashionable life.
- The Monster (1890)
A novel exploring moral corruption and hidden vice. Saltus portrays characters consumed by desire and downfall.
- Madam Sapphira (1899)
A decadent novel centered on a femme fatale figure. Themes of seduction, betrayal, and ruin dominate.
- The Paliser Case (1919)
A society novel involving intrigue, scandal, and moral ambiguity. Saltus blends courtroom drama with social satire.
- The Ghost Girl (1898)
A gothic‑tinged novel, mixing mystery and romance. Saltus uses supernatural atmosphere to explore psychological tension.
- The Pace That Kills (1895)
A novel of excess and downfall, showing how indulgence leads to ruin. Saltus critiques modern life’s destructive speed.
- Eden, an Episode (1888)
A novel of passion and tragedy, set against lush backdrops. Saltus’s prose is ornate and decadent.
- Daughters of the Dream (1902)
A novel exploring illusions, romance, and disillusionment. Saltus critiques the fragility of dreams versus reality.
- Mary Magdalen (1893)
A novel with biblical themes, reimagining the figure of Mary Magdalen in a decadent, ironic style.
- The Perfume of Eros (1905)
One of Saltus’s most famous novels, exploring love, decadence, and moral ambiguity. Passion is treated as both intoxicating and destructive.
- Mr. Incoul’s Misadventure (1885)
A society novel of intrigue, betrayal, and downfall. Saltus critiques wealth and ambition through ironic storytelling.
Daughters of the Rich (1900)
Fiction; a society novel satirizing wealth, ambition, and social climbing in New York.
The Imperial Orgy (1920)
Fiction; novel set in Imperial Russia, dramatizing decadence, intrigue, and collapse. One of Saltus’s later works, blending history with fiction.
Daughters of the Rich (1900)
Fiction; a society novel satirizing wealth, ambition, and social climbing in New York.
The Imperial Orgy (1920)
Fiction; novel set in Imperial Russia, dramatizing decadence, intrigue, and collapse. One of Saltus’s later works, blending history with fiction.
Biography
- Edgar Saltus: The Man (1925, by Marie Saltus)
Written by his third wife, Marie Saltus, this biography mixes personal anecdotes, letters, and reflections. It covers his childhood, marriages, literary career, and philosophical evolution from atheistic pessimism to a more spiritual outlook.
Translations / Adaptations
Tales Before Supper from Théophile Gautier and Prosper Mérimée (translated/adapted by Saltus, c. 1880s–1890s)
Translation; Saltus brought French decadent tales into English, showing his admiration for Gautier and Mérimée.
Editor's note
I began to collect works of many thinkers in One‑PDF Collection
To Protect Edgar Saltus’s Legacy
Many Saltus books are at risk of disappearing
Saltus was never a mainstream writer.
He was:
- an atheist pessimist,
- a decadent stylist,
- and a critic of religion and society.
Because of this, many institutions, libraries, and universities historically did not prioritize preserving his works. Some of his books
- exist only in a few scans,
- are miscatalogued,
- or are at risk of being removed from digital libraries due to low demand.
The collection of books was merged In one PDF book size. 170 Mb