Abstract
This paper uses elements from crime novel analysis and the most prominent features of Naturalism, Realism, Symbolism and Decadentism in order to analyze how A lição de anatomia do temível Dr. Louison, by Enéias Tavares, an "alternative fiction" steampunk novel, revisits literary movements, works and narrative forms that are typical in nineteenth century literature, by means of opposing and blending them so as to cast a contemporary look at a hypothetical future of a rebuilt past. In order to achieve this goal, the text is divided in five parts: in the first part, studies about steampunk are employed to understand its mechanisms and to situate Tavares work within this contemporary aesthetic tendency; then, the novel A Lição de anatomia is analyzed, read as a crime novel, spelling out its relation with literary works which it references. In light of Charles Baudelaire writings, the relation with tradition and its rereading is highlighted, while the debate between the sovereignty of science and mysticism - which structures the novel by means of a counterpoint, giving it its unity, is accentuated. Thirdly a detailed reading concerning the figure of the novel's title character is given. The novel compares him to Des Esseintes, a character from À rebours [Against the grain], by J.-K Huysmans, aiming to expound his decadent aspect and dandy persona. The paper ends with a consideration towards the decadent dandy's victory over the "mad-doctor" image, the novel's metaphorical synthesis and likely key to behold Modernity from a contemporary view.
Keywords:
steampunk; nineteenth century literary movements; decadentism; crime literature; Enéias Tavares