Bruges-la-Morte

by Georges Rodenbach

"Bruges-la-Morte" by Georges Rodenbach is a short novel published in 1892. This archetypal Symbolist work tells the story of Hugues Viane, a grief-stricken widower who retreats to the decaying city of Bruges, living among his dead wife's relics. When he encounters a dancer who resembles her, he becomes dangerously obsessed. Notable for its poetic evocation of the melancholy city and its innovative use of photographs as illustrations, this groundbreaking novel explores themes of loss, obsession, and the blurred boundaries between past and present.