Marthe

work by Huysmans

Also known as: “Marthe, histoire d’une fille”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Marthe, histoire d’une fille (1876) is a novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans. It chronicles his liaison with a soubrette and is considered an early work influenced by naturalist novelists. Huysmans, a French writer, is known for his novels that capture the aesthetic, spiritual, and intellectual shifts in late 19th-century France. While Marthe aligns with naturalism, Huysmans later moved towards more decadent themes in his subsequent works, such as À rebours and Là-bas. His literary journey is often seen as a spiritual odyssey, exploring themes of escapism and the search for happiness.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Joris-Karl Huysmans
…naturalist novelists, include a novel, Marthe, histoire d’une fille (1876; Marthe), about his liaison with a soubrette, and a novella, Sac au dos (1880; “Pack on Back”), based on his experience in the Franco-German War. The latter was published in Les Soirées de Médan (1881), war stories written by members…
Read More
…naturalist novelists, include a novel, Marthe, histoire d’une fille (1876; Marthe), about his liaison with a soubrette, and a novella, Sac au dos (1880; “Pack on Back”), based on his experience in the Franco-German War. The latter was published in Les Soirées de Médan (1881), war stories written by members…
Read More