picked this up because of the references made in hbo’s true detective, which was great, and was surprised by how much i actually enjoyed the inspiration material.
the book is roughly divided in half in terms of theme. the front section is devoted to the titular king in yellow, a story so sensational it drives its reader crazy by the end of its second act. chambers is credited as being an inspiration to the likes of poe and lovecraft and these stories are similarly haunting. the first story is even reminiscent of true detective in its use of an unreliable narrator and i wonder if show runner nick pizzolatto took inspiration from more than just character and setting.
the second half focuses on the latin quarter of paris during the late 1800's. they are mostly tales of bohemian students and artists living in squalor and falling in love. i would imagine those turning to this collection for tales of the macabre would be a bit turned off by this sudden turn to the charming, but i found both subject matter to be well done and some very pretty language to be found in the second half in particular.
for example this bit of verse:
there are but these things in the world—
thy mouth of fire,
thy breasts, thy hands, thy hair upcurled
and my desire.
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