Inferno

by August Strindberg

"Inferno" by August Strindberg is an autobiographical novel written in French in 1896–97. Isolated in Paris and separated from his family, the narrator descends into paranoia and obsession, pursuing alchemy, occultism, and Swedenborgianism. He fears persecution from fellow artists, believes he possesses magical powers, and sees mysterious forces guiding his life. As he moves between Paris, Austria, and Sweden, his experiences transform into a living hell—though evidence suggests Strindberg may have invented or exaggerated much of his account for dramatic effect.