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The Book of the Damned is a 1988 fantasy/horror novel by World Fantasy Award winner Tanith Lee. Set in Paradys, an alternative version of Paris, it takes place in three novellas set at different periods in the city's dark history.

Synopsis
The Book of the Damned consists of three short novellas set in Paradys, an alternate world version of Paris: Stained with Crimson, Malice in Saffron, and Empires of Azure. Each novella focuses around a single color; with each transition between novellas, the era and color and writing style change, but themes of dark magic, murder, love, gender, and identity persist. Each novella “centers visually on a stained glass window … [whose] colors are reflected in three pieces of ancient jewelry: a ruby scarab ring, a topaz crucifix plundered during the crusades[,] and an Egyptian sapphire earring shaped like a spider. Each jewel is fateful for its possessor”.

Stained With Crimson
Stained With Crimson is the story of Andre St. Jean, a poet in 19th century Paradys, who is given a ruby scarab ring by a mysterious stranger and falls in love with Antonina, a sinister noblewoman who only comes out at night. Following the death of Philippe, Andre’s friend and occasional lover, Antonina and Andre begin an affair, and Antonina bites Andre. Antonina falls sick and dies mysteriously, and her brother Anthony arrives demanding the scarab ring from Andre and challenging him to a duel, where Andre is killed by a silver bullet. Andre soon awakens, as Anna Sanjeanne, leaves Paradys for the countryside following Anthony--who is revealed to be Antonina, similarly transformed by the scarab ring. They renew their affair in different bodies; Anthony dies; Antonina returns; the cycle continues.

Malice in Saffron
Malice in Saffron presents a story during the medieval times era of violence and the abuse of women. The main character, Jehanine, is brutally raped by her stepfather. Stealing his yellow topaz crucifix, she flees to the city of Paradys to find her brother Pierre--who does not believe her. Seeking shelter in a nunnery, Jehanine leads a dual life: by day she is Jehanine/Jhane, while by night she disguises herself as a boy, Jehan, a murderous burglar who works with a gang of thieves. After numerous murders, sexual assaults and an encounter with a demon, Jehanine repents her violent ways as the city falls to a demon-inflicted plague. Tending her plague-stricken brother, she makes a great sacrifice to save his life and finds a sort of redemption.

Empires of Azure
Empires of Azure is narrated by St, Jean, a journalist. The story is about Louis de Jenier, a celebrated female impersonator in early 20th century Paradys who discovers a spider-shaped sapphire earring in his new house and becomes haunted by a ghost named Timonie, all the while imprisoned by his manager and bodyguard. The sorceress turns out to be Tuamon/Tiyamonet. Jenier then dies .St Jean confronts Tuamon and in the end Tuamon has to finish the journal that Jenier started.

Stained With Crimson

 * Andre St Jean/Anna Sanjeanne: A poet from Paradys, he is given a crimson scarab ring by a mysterious stranger, falls in love with the elusive Antonina, is killed by her brother Anthony (actually Antonina herself), and returns as Anna Sanjeanne.
 * Philippe: Andre’s best friend from childhood and secret lover. After death, he is turned into an infant.
 * Anna Sanjeanne: The female reincarnation of Andre.
 * Antonina: A noblewoman in Paradys. She is seen only at night, has pitch black eyes, and later bites Andre. She is plagued with illness and dies. She is revived as her male counterpart, Anthony.
 * Anthony: Male reincarnation of Antonina after she becomes ill and dies.

Malice in Saffron

 * Jehanine: A young peasant girl who is raped by her step-father, she runs away to paradys to be with her brother but is abandoned and left alone and hides in a convent.
 * Jehan: Jehanine in male disguise; only comes out at night and is a savage thief and killer.
 * Pierre: Jehanine's brother, he refuses to help Jehanine when he hears about her rape, is later beaten by thieves at her behest, and nearly dies of plague.
 * Osanne: A nun from the convent Jehanine comes across, who takes her in and gives her a saffron crucifix.
 * Dwarf: A dwarf who leads Jehannine to the nunnery when her brother abandons her.

Empires of Azure

 * Louis: A writer who is assigned to record what happens in a house haunted by past spirits.
 * Timonie: One of the spirits who haunts the house in Paradys where Louis is working.
 * Tiyamonet/Tuamon: The other spirit who haunts the house where Louis is working; an ancient Egyptian sorceress.
 * Manager: Kurt

Background and Writing Process
While writing The Book of the Damned, Lee was already an award winning horror writer. She created another world that involved demons, vampires and supernaturals. Lee said that her writing process came naturally to her; she didn't plot her stories out before writing them, but rather started with an idea, and the rest just came to her. “All ... [she] need[ed] [to] do is dive in for a swim," and if she couldn't think of a certain detail, she went to her “backbrain,” which poured out all of the unknown to her.

Themes and writing style
In these three stories, the emphasize of color and gender change brings out the evil and darkness.The shades of red, yellow and blue pop out in the world painted in a world of black and white, which are also tied in with,“all three portray physical and spiritual attractions, changes of sex, either through impersonation, transformation or androgyny”. While the novellas are connected by their themes of death, rebirth, identity, and the usage of color schemes that represent each novella, “love or the longing for it is the central motif of the book”. Lee uses changes of sex, and spiritual changes throughout all three novellas. All of the novellas have a source of identity, and many character changes throughout the novellas. Each novella has a precious jewel that describes the mood of the story, in Stained with Crimson has a ruby scarab ring, Malice in Saffron has a topaz crucifix, and Empires of Azure has a sapphire earring.

Critics have described Lee's work as "prolific ... and highly descriptive, drawing heavily on folk tale, often inverting the well-known outcome to produce something altogether more disturbing" (Telegraph.Co.Uk.). The style has been described as “lush, vibrant, exotic, elegant, perverse, and darkly beautiful." The stories utterly demonstrate Gothic backgrounds, complete with the use of demons, ghosts, and transformation of genders.

"Tanith Lee, Writer - Obituary." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Critical Reception
Critics describe the Book of the Damned as erotic, horror-filled, grim and dark, its three novellas united by the setting of Paradys, and praise Lee’s use of language and imagination. Locus nominated The Book of the Damned as Best collection in 1989. The Book of the Damned then placed fifteenth out of twenty five but since then the book hasn't won or been nominated for any awards.