| Summary: | work of Villiers de l'Isle-Adam is significant for the ambivalent relationship to his century which has become known as the century of Progress. On one hand, Villiers is fascinated by Science and its possibilities, on the other hand, he warns against the Science which has become new religion of this period. He projects the anamnesis of his century into a bizzare gallery of men of Science. First, we will see the inventors whose creations should facilitate our life but in reality, they repress everything that goes against the doctrine of the "sane intelligence". The next group of scientists are those who adjust people according to the spirit of the epoch which claims continence. These scientists treat people with the "balm of sane inteligence" helping to get rid off such "anachronisms" as calling of glory or honour, patriotism or remorses. But Villiers goes even further in his criticism and he introduces us cold maniacs of knowledge. For them, a human life is less valuable than the slightest scientific discovery. Next scientists who appear in Villiers's work are Tribulat Bonhomet and Edison. On one side, Bonhomet is the extract of all that Villiers imagines under the term of "blind pragmatism". Nevertheless, he is also an uncompleted esquisse of the most noble representative of Science whom Villiers has ever...
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