These three books form the Erwin-trilogy, published under the pseudonym of the writer's collective Joyce & Co subsequently under the sole authorship of Geerten Meijsing. Strongly based in aestheticism and decadence, these novels explore the hedonistic lifestyle of the writer from three aspects, volume 1 in rhetorica, volume 2 in painting and volume 3 in music. Particularly volume 1 is highly contrived and very erudite if not downright pedantic. Volume 2 is by far the most readable, while volume 3, published almost a decade later is fairly bland. The artificiality of the style of volume 1 foreshadows some of the later work of Meijsing with craft and art standing above nature. The three books are the expression of a very personal writing style and an overdose of vanity. ( )