Olivier Rey and Roberto Calasso Reassess Beauty, Truth, and Morality in Melville and Baudelaire

Olivier Rey's "Le Testament de Melville" and Roberto Calasso's "La Folie Baudelaire" present innovative interpretations of timeless literary works, emphasizing themes of beauty, truth, and the moral dichotomy between good and evil. Rey revisits Melville's "Billy Budd," drawing attention to nuances such as Billy's stutter when confronted with malevolence and the lack of a death spasm, which underscore the narrative's complexity and the ongoing quest for truth. The concluding chapter, "Vivre avec la beauté," explores various reactions to beauty. Meanwhile, Calasso's "La Folie Baudelaire" examines how Baudelaire redefined Stendhal's notion of "beauty as a promise of happiness" into a profound "Beau," citing philosophers like Joseph de Maistre. Both authors contend that literature can reveal truth more effectively than philosophy or ethics. Reviews appeared in artpress in December 2011.