Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties

Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties is a satirical novella by Sir Max Beerbohm, first published in 1916. Set in the late Victorian era, it follows Enoch Soames, a fictional poet who makes a pact with the devil to discover his future literary legacy. The story critiques artistic ambition and the fleeting nature of fame, revealing Soames's tragic realization that he is remembered only in derision. This work blends fiction with literary criticism, offering a poignant commentary on the struggles of recognition in the literary world.