Always deft, always precise, these short pieces bring the fin-de-siècle world of Paris's belle époque into conversation with today.

Jean Fremon: Jean Frémon is the author of over twenty works of poetry, fiction, and essay. Director of a gallery of contemporary art, he frequently writes on ekphrastic themes, exploring the links between visual art and writing. His work has been translated into many languages, with six works available in English, including The Island of the Dead, which won the 2004 PEN USA Award in Literary Translation. He lives and works in Paris.
Brian Evenson: A three-time winner of the O. Henry Prize, Brian Evenson is the author of twelve works of fiction, including Last Days, which won the American Library Association's award for Best Horror Novel of 2009 and The Wavering Knife, which won the IHG Award for best story collection. He has translated numerous works from French, including Jean Frémon's The Botanical Garden. He teaches at Cal Arts in Southern California.