Jean Lorrain was a writer who lived and breathed the decadent, over-the-top atmosphere of late 19th-century Paris. 'L'école des vieilles femmes' is a perfect example of his work: it's sharp, stylish, and unafraid to look at the ugly side of beautiful people.

The Story

The novel centers on Jacques, a somewhat aimless young man drawn into the orbit of a clique of older, aristocratic women. Led by the formidable Marquise de Rieux, these women have formed a kind of unofficial 'school.' Their curriculum? The dark arts of Parisian society: manipulation, financial cunning, and the preservation of influence long after youth has faded. They recruit and train younger, beautiful women as their protégés, using them as pawns in social games and as mirrors for their own lost glory. Jacques becomes both an observer and a participant in this world, witnessing the cruel mentorship, the buried secrets that threaten to surface, and the tragicomic efforts to defy time. The plot moves through salons and private chambers, uncovering blackmail, betrayal, and the high price of maintaining an illusion.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a warm or comforting book, and that's what makes it so compelling. Lorrain writes with a jeweler's eye for detail and a surgeon's cold precision. His descriptions of gowns, interiors, and faces are lush, but they always hint at something decaying underneath. The 'old women' are monstrous in their vanity, yet you understand their terror of becoming invisible. Jacques is often passive, which lets us feel the claustrophobic pull of their world. The book is less about a traditional mystery and more about the suspense of watching a gilded cage slowly tarnish. It’s a fascinating, if unsettling, character study of power when it has nothing left but money and memory.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers who love historical fiction with a dark, psychological edge. If you enjoyed the cynical society portraits in Edith Wharton's work or the aesthetic decadence of Oscar Wilde, but wished it was a bit more twisted and French, you'll find a lot to love here. It’s also a great pick if you're interested in LGBTQ+ literary history, as Lorrain wrote openly about queer subcultures of his time. Be warned: it’s not a fast-paced thriller. It’s a slow, immersive soak in a world of beautiful desperation. Come for the gorgeous prose and stay for the brutally sharp observations on age, beauty, and social survival.