Classics > S Classics > Marquis de sade

Advantages: If you read it you'll be able to say I've read it
Disadvantages: Its 120 Days of Sodom

...their actions over the following 120 days are chronicled to prove who is indeed the most debauched. And that, my friends, is the plot. I was very curious to know how good a standard of writer Sade actually was and I can confirm with confidence that he was well, distinctly poor. The writing style is ironically rather stilted and unimaginative in my opinion. The characters are never fully explored and the plot is tenuous in the extreme. The principle ...
...it rather difficult to care: 120 days of debauchery quickly came to feel like 120 years. The interest in the novel is in determining to what extent the man and the author can be separated. It can be contended that the lonely figure writing in his prison cell courted infamy in his lifestyle yet purposefully wrote in an unreadable and distant style to push the reader away but to justify himself to himself at the same time. It is just about possible, ... Read review

Advantages: Extremely erotic, but you might get some meaning out of it
Disadvantages: Extremely erotic (yes, again), very violent, disgusting for some

Juliette (1797-1801) by Marquis de Sade This book is extreme, pornographic and violent, and as one of the evil characters in Les Liaisons Dangereuses puts it: "it's not my fault." Were you offended by the title of this review? First, this was not meant as a sacrilege: I try to respect the sensibility of the readers as much as I can, but when I thought of the title I just couldn't resist the temptation; I felt when I was reading the book that Sade ...
...which was written earlier, Justine. Juliette is a young orphan girl whose father went bankrupt before he died (other surprises take place later) and she chooses to work in prostitution in order to earn her living. The book is called Juliette OR Vice Amply Rewarded, and so it belongs to the series of novels that appeared after Samuel Richardson's Pamela who led a virtuous life and was rewarded. We read the book knowing what is going to happen at the ... Read review

Advantages: lust
Disadvantages: none

This is one of the corner stones not just of French literature but of all literature. It was banned during his lifetime and afterwards and is a shocking insight into the world of the erotic and warped morals. It could be classed as pornography but it is much more accurate to see this book as pushing back the boundaries of the expression of the passions. Unfortunately he will always be remembered for his association with the word ‘sadism’, but this ... Read review

Advantages: A balanced introduction to Sade, yet…
Disadvantages: … it's not his best work

Justine (1787) By Marquis de Sade (1740 - 1814) Whereas Juliette was Sade's dear baby doll, Justine was the dummy in which he stuck all his needles. She chooses the "right path" which is for Sade the wrong thing to do in a corrupt world. He calls his novel(la) Justine OR Good Conduct Well Chastised, and in it the heroine refuses to become a sinner, so everybody takes advantage of her. Of course, now you think you know how the book will end, but ...
...is that although JULIETTE and JUSTINE have the same ending, yet in each book it is told from a different point of view to suit the purpose of becoming either a happy or a tragic ending story. Needless to say, this is definitely both a smart and a cruel strategy on the part of Sade who gives you an ending to sympathize with in JUSTINE, then snatches it from you devilishly in JULIETTE, and, obviously, the clever reader should choose to believe the ... Read review

Advantages: A great read!
Disadvantages: A very unpleasant end.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles is one of my favourite Thomas Hardy novels, simply because the story is so unique and captivating. Ii read this over the summer and I can assure you that you also will enjoy the book. The price is very little and is definately worth having in your collection. However, those who are new to Thomas Hardy I must warn you that his work is often padded out with excessive details. This however does not ruin the story. The story ...
...invites you to sympathize with all that Tess is and all that she goes through. I highly recommend this novel, although it may not have a pleasant ending it is very interesting and meaningful! I must add that any woman intending on reading this you are surely to love it! ... Read review