Amidst the looming chaos of the French Revolution, the narrative unfolds while Sade is confined in the Bastille. "Aline and Valcour" explores themes that would later define his more controversial writings, delving into complex human desires and moral dilemmas. This work foreshadows the provocative ideas that characterize Sade's literary legacy, offering a glimpse into the tumultuous interplay of passion and philosophy during a pivotal historical moment.
Exploring the life and works of the notorious Marquis de Sade, this historical novel, discovered posthumously, showcases his literary prowess beyond his infamous reputation. Known for his scandalous erotic novels, Sade also delved into history with "Adelaide of Brunswick," reflecting his philosophical insights and dramatic flair. This work highlights the complexity of a man often condemned by society, revealing his significant contributions to literature and thought.
Set during the tumultuous period leading to the French Revolution, this novel reflects the complexities of human desire and morality, showcasing themes that would later define Sade's more controversial writings. Composed during his imprisonment in the Bastille, it delves into the intricacies of love, power, and philosophical inquiry, offering a unique perspective on the societal upheaval of the time.
Part of Sade's The Crimes of Love cycle, this shocking tale - which was among the writings banned for publication until the twentieth century - tests the limits of morality and portrays the disastrous consequences of freedom and pleasure.
The 1990s have seen a resurgence of interest in the Marquis de Sade, with several biographies competing to put their version of his life story before the public. But Sadean scholar Richard Seaver takes us directly to the source, translating Sade's prison correspondence. Seaver's translations retain the aristocratic hauteur of Sade's prose, which still possesses a clarity that any reader can appreciate. "When will my horrible situation cease?" he wrote to his wife shortly after his incarceration began in 1777. "When in God's name will I be let out of the tomb where I have been buried alive? There is nothing to equal the horror of my fate!" But he was never reduced to pleading for long, and not always so solicitous of his wife's feelings; a few years later, he would write, "This morning I received a fat letter from you that seemed endless. Please, I beg of you, don't go on at such length: do you believe that I have nothing better to do than to read your endless repetitions?" For those interested in learning about the man responsible for some of the most infamous philosophical fiction in history, Letters from Prison is an indispensable collection.
The narrative revolves around Florville's decision to confess her past sins to Courval before their marriage, emphasizing themes of honesty and redemption. As she reveals her sordid tales, the unexpected connections between her experiences unfold, creating surprising revelations for both the narrator and the reader. This exploration of secrets and morality offers a classic take on the complexities of relationships and personal history.
No other writer has so scandalized proper society as the Marquis de Sade, but despite the deliberate destruction of over three-quarters of his work, Sade remains a major figure in the history of ideas. His influence on some of the greatest minds of the last century—from Baudelaire and Swinburne to Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky and Kafka—is indisputable. This volume contains Philosophy in the Bedroom, a major novel that presents the clearest summation of his political philosophy; Eugénie de Franval, a novella widely considered to be a masterpiece of eighteenth-century French literature; and the only authentic and complete American edition of his most famous work, Justine. This literary portrait of Sade is completed by one of his earliest philosophical efforts, Dialogue between a Priest and a Dying Man, a selection of his letters, a fifty-page chronology of his life, two important essays on Sade, and a bibliography of his work.
"Murder, seduction, and incest are among the cruel rewards for selfless love in Sade's stories; tragedy, despair, and death the inevitable outcome. In this text Sade asks questions about society, about ourselves, and about life, for which we have yet to find the answers"--Provided by publisher.
First published in 1797, this is a sequence of bizarre sexual adventures punctuated by philosophical and theological premises on total egoism and human liberty. Vilified by respectable society since his own time, de Sade is now considered one of the most prodigious minds of Western history.
Amongst the most accessible of Sade's fiction, the stories in this collection range from the dramatic novella 'Eugenie de Franval' to comic tales such as 'The Husband Who Played Priest'.