Théophile Gautier’s "The Pavilion on Water" is a sumptuous and evocative short story that immerses the reader in the aesthetic and sensual world of the Far East, reflecting the 19th-century European fascination with Chinoiserie. The narrative is a framed tale, in which a group of men discuss love and beauty, leading one to recount a story from Chinese lore. The central tale revolves around a wealthy and sophisticated Mandarin who possesses a exquisite pavilion built upon a lake, a place of perfect beauty and tranquility. He is in love with a woman of unparalleled grace, and their romance is depicted with Gautier's characteristic focus on visual and sensory detail—the shimmer of silk, the scent of lotus flowers, the play of moonlight on water. The pavilion itself becomes a symbol of this idealized, almost artificial love, a perfect creation separate from the mundane world. However, a conflict arises, perhaps from a rival suitor, a societal constraint, or a betrayal, threatening this delicate paradise. The resolution often carries a tone of melancholy or poetic justice, emphasizing the transient nature of beauty and pleasure. Théophile Gautier is less concerned with a complex plot than with creating a vivid and atmospheric tableau. The story functions as a prose poem, celebrating art, beauty, and the bittersweet nature of love, all filtered through a Western romanticization of an imagined, timeless China.

Table of Contents:

- The Pavilion On The Water (Full Story)