Leeward: we meet South Korea’s probable president

Published in 1857, 'Les Fleurs du Mal' is a poetic masterpiece by Charles Baudelaire, consisting of 126 poems arranged in six sections: 'Spleen et idéal', 'Tableaux parisiens', 'Le Vin', 'Fleurs du mal', 'Révolte', and 'La Mort'. The poems delve into contrasting views of art, beauty, and the artist, as well as themes of sexual and romantic love, urban suffering, and the search for transcendence. The work is known for its originality, bold expression, and use of provocative imagery, making it a cornerstone of modern French literature and a significant influence on Symbolism and Modernism[2][3][5].

Published in 1959, 'Naked Lunch' is a highly symbolic and surreal novel that follows the character William Lee, a heroin addict, as he navigates through various locations including New York, Mexico, and the fictional city of Interzone. The book is structured as a series of non-chronological 'routines' that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. It critiques societal norms, drug culture, and the mechanisms of control, using vivid and often disturbing imagery. The novel was the subject of obscenity trials due to its explicit content but was ultimately cleared of charges, recognizing its literary and social importance[2][3][4].