Hugo Lacroix's 'L'Enfer' Anthology: A Literary Descent into Hell

Jacques Henric examines 'L'Enfer' (Hell), a compilation by Hugo Lacroix published by La Différence, which gathers texts and visuals spanning 28 centuries concerning hell. Lacroix posits that hell is a construct of writing, which is intrinsically tormenting. The book begins with a quote from 17th-century Reverend Christopher Love, highlighting the failure of earthly representations to convey hell's suffering. It includes contributions from notable figures such as Boccaccio, Bosch, Goya, Blake, alongside philosophers like Origen and Schopenhauer. The review emphasizes that hell has inspired more discourse than paradise, reflecting a human fascination with damnation. The concluding chapter, 'Hell on Earth,' addresses wars and atrocities. Henric speculates that Lacroix might create a paradise anthology, though it may not reach the same depth. Alain Rey's 'Dictionnaire amoureux du Diable' is also referenced.