the novels of the Marquis De Sade

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I've never read them. I always had them down as being kind of mental and too obviously extreme to be the smut classics they are meant to be. But I was very taken with the way De Sade and his work was treated in "The Invisibles", with "120 Nights of Sodom" being presented more as a horror novel than as something that was meant to be sexually arousing. So I became more interested in him, but have never acted on that interest. Until now.

So, what do you think of the good Marquis' literary work?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Hello googlers.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

they look pretty darn long and tedious. which is why i've steered clear. i think i admire the effort and over-the-topness of it all, but i'm not even sure about that. yeah, i am sure that i like the "idea" of someone being such a kook and they have certainly given people a lot to write about over the years, but every time i glance at one it looks like serious monomania to me. so, classic for the discussions they raise and the art that they inspire(pasolini's salo for one), but dud at the thought of reading one cuz they look like "torture".

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 18 April 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

i think that's the first time that i've ever responded to an author/book thread without having read any of the author's work! But he has been a pretty big influence/topic of discussion both negatively and positively for as long as i can remember, so...

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 18 April 2004 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Try one of his shorter novellas first and see how it goes from there. I definitely wouldn't recommend jumping into the larger ones (Justine, Juliette, or 120 Days of Sodom) until you're sure you really can stick with the ole' Marquee.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 19 April 2004 03:51 (twenty-one years ago)

120 days is as beautiful as a nipple burning

― queen G of copacabana, Monday, 19 April 2004 08:46 (twenty-one years ago)

120 days is sheer tedium. Philosophy in the Boudoir was sort of interesting though. I read a great biography of him, perhaps he's one of those writers it's better to read about than read.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Monday, 19 April 2004 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Jonathan, What book was this? I have been searching for a good bio of him.

― Sue M., Monday, 19 April 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I second the sentiments of Girolamo and queen G, but would add that if they are your thing, the writings of Marquis de Sade can be extremely valuable in their own right (to respond to Mr. Seward's comments). There are definitely availible texts that are brief enough to warrant a read even if it doesn't turn out to be your thing. The first thing that I read by Marquis de Sade was 'Dialouge Between a Priest and a Dying Man' (can be found in the most common volume of Justine/Philosophy in the Bedroom that they have at places like barnes and noble, ect.) which is eloquently written and was a revelation at that point in my life. Hope that's helpful to you.

― Renaldo Ray, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 07:32 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, and classic as life

― Renaldo Ray, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 07:33 (twenty-one years ago)

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the novels of the Marquis De Sade - classic or dud