Edgar Saltus

Edgar Saltus (1855–1921) was an American author whose fiction and essays reflected the aesthetic and decadent movements of the late 19th century. Educated in Europe and the United States, he absorbed influences from French symbolists and German philosophy, which shaped his ornate, often cynical prose. His early novel Mr. Incoul's Misadventure (1887) introduced his characteristic blend of social satire and psychological drama. The Monster (1912) and The Truth About Tristrem Varick (1888) further showcased his fascination with crime, moral ambiguity, and the macabre. Though never a mainstream success, Saltus was admired by contemporaries like H. L. Mencken for his stylistic daring. His work fell into obscurity after his death but has seen renewed interest among scholars of American Gothic and decadent literature.