Published in 1898, Emile Bergerat's Contes de Caliban is a clever and unexpected sequel of sorts. Bergerat, a journalist and son-in-law to the great writer Théophile Gautier, imagines what became of Shakespeare's famous 'monster' after the curtain fell on The Tempest.

The Story

The book is a series of connected stories. Caliban doesn't stay on his magical island. A storm—perhaps a final gift from Prospero—carries him across the sea and deposits him in late 19th-century Paris. Suddenly, this creature of nature is navigating the bustling, industrialized modern world. The stories follow his attempts to understand everything from politics and journalism to love and art. He observes Parisian society with a raw, unfiltered perspective, pointing out its hypocrisies and marvels with equal bewilderment. He isn't just a tourist; he becomes a participant, often getting tangled in the very human dramas he's trying to decode.

Why You Should Read It

The magic here is in the point of view. Reading Caliban's observations feels like putting on a pair of glasses that makes the familiar look bizarre. Bergerat isn't just making jokes about a savage in a suit (though there is humor). He's using Caliban to ask real questions: What have we gained with 'progress,' and what have we lost? Are we truly more civilized, or have we just built more elaborate cages? Caliban's voice is surprisingly poignant. He’s not a brute; he's an innocent, and his confusion about our world makes you question it, too. Bergerat's prose is lively and full of personality, capturing the energy of Parisian life while letting this classic literary outsider poke holes in it.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for readers who love literary mash-ups and smart social satire. If you enjoyed seeing the world through an alien's eyes in stories like Candide or Gulliver's Travels, you'll find a kindred spirit in Bergerat's Caliban. It's also a great, accessible way to engage with a classic character long after his original story ended. You don't need to be a Shakespeare scholar—you just need a curiosity about how strange our own society can look when seen for the first time.