"An innocent but curious heroine who discovers the extent of human depravity is the core of much of Rachilde's fiction, and the present novel is no exception."

-Melanie C. Hawthorne

Amid the rose gardens of her father's farm, beautiful Marguerite Davenel is weary of her supposedly charmed life. When she encounters charismatic Fulbert, an anarchist who despises the bourgeois world that she represents, he upends the very foundations of her existence. As their complicated attraction deepens, the appearance of a woman from Fulbert's past blurs the boundaries between good and evil, forcing Marguerite to decide where she stands. First published in 1904 by Rachilde, a fiercely independent author who explores provocative sexuality and characters, the novel is translated here into English for the first time.

The Underbelly illustrates Rachilde's enduring relevance-a decadent tale in which the propriety of the countryside hides a dark underside.