Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties
“Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties” is a satirical short story by Sir Max Beerbohm. It humorously and cleverly tells the tale of a fictional poet, Enoch Soames, who makes a deal with the devil to learn how posterity views him.
About This Ebook
The central theme of this short story revolves around vanity and the value of art. Enoch Soames, an obscure poet yearning for fame, makes a pact with the devil to travel forward in time and discover his place in literary history. When he finds that his works have been forgotten, he is left bitterly disappointed. Beerbohm uses this narrative to satirize artists who excessively crave recognition, while also examining how time truly tests the worth of artistic creations. Additionally, the author’s distinctive wit blends the literary circles of the Victorian era with the social landscape of the early 20th century, offering readers a both absurd and profound fable.