The Arch-Satirist

"The Arch-Satirist" by Frances Fenwick Williams is a story set in the early 1900s, focusing on how being creative can impact people's lives, morals, and friendships. You'll read about Gerald Amherst, an artist who is sensible, and Leo Ricossia, a troubled poet who is fighting addiction, as they try to figure out how their amazing talents sometimes lead them to do bad things. The book kicks off with Amherst and Ricossia talking in a dark art studio. Ricossia is super into enjoying all the good things in life, even though he's getting sick. These first interactions really point out how different the two men are, with Amherst being stable while Ricossia is all over the place. The story goes on to show how difficult it can be to be a talented artist and how tough it can be when people struggle with themselves and the world around them.