The Confession of a Fool

by August Strindberg

"The Confession of a Fool" by August Strindberg is an autobiographical novel written in 1887–1888. This lightly fictionalized account chronicles Strindberg's tumultuous first marriage to Siri von Essen from 1874 to 1887. Written hastily in French as his marriage collapsed, Strindberg feared a conspiracy among European women to portray him as insane. The book reveals his version of the truth about their stormy relationship, leading to obscenity charges and a pirated publication that appeared despite his protests.