I picked up this slim volume expecting a simple period piece, but it grabbed me by the collar and didn't let go. Emilio Carrere writes with the energy of someone telling you a fantastic secret.

The Story

The plot is deceptively simple. Our narrator, a dreamer stuck in ordinary life, comes across a beautiful silver cup rumored to have been owned by the French Symbolist poet Paul Verlaine. From the first sip of wine taken from it, his world cracks open. He's plunged into vivid, waking dreams—scenes of lavish parties, poetic debauchery, and the raw creative fire of Verlaine's circle. But the cup's gift is a curse, too. These visions start to bleed into his reality, threatening to consume his sanity and his very identity. The central question becomes: is he experiencing artistic transcendence, or is he just losing his mind?

Why You Should Read It

Carrere isn't just writing about bohemian life; he makes you feel its dizzying allure and its dark underbelly. The book is less about historical accuracy and more about the dangerous romance of the artistic ideal. You feel the narrator's exhilaration and his terror as the boundaries between his life and Verlaine's world dissolve. It's a fascinating, personal look at the cost of inspiration and the seductive power of wanting to live inside a legend.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves stories about art, obsession, and the shadows of history. If you enjoy the moody atmosphere of Gothic tales but prefer a modern (for its time), urban setting, you'll love it. It's also great for readers short on time—it's a powerful, single-sitting kind of story that leaves a lasting impression. Think of it as a lost relic of Spanish Decadent literature, waiting to be rediscovered.