This post is on the SM/Bondage/Fetish web board.
| Fri 29 Apr 11, 4:19 PM VGTsangel UK(NP), 10 yrs   |
Just curious as to those who have read any of De Sade's work, what did you think of it? Was he a Master writer? How did you enjoy the books? Why did you enjoy them? Or maybe you didn't like them at all....... I have seen Justine film form, I have recently read another book, but wont give my own opinions just yet as I am curious about how others feel. Have to say though that the one I did read was NOT what I had expected at all.......... angel His angel, well most of the time! |
| 29 Apr 11, 4:35 PM pilsburyDB 19 mths |
I've read 120 days of Sodom a couple of times, it's incomplete and while it's interesting I wouldn't say he was a master writer by any standard. Just my opinion of course.... A council house short of being a chav! |
| 29 Apr 11, 4:48 PM Al_Hyde UK(KT), 3 yrs |
I've read a couple of his book and found them alright.... not much cop though. I do like some of his philosophy on the law. Al. Know matter where the light may be the darkness always awaits it. |
| 29 Apr 11, 4:52 PM TheProf UK(BL), 12 yrs |
There is a wonderful commentary by Angela Carter called 'The Sadeian Woman'. the again, Simone de Beauvoir's essay "Must we burn de Sade", attracted the memorable one line review: "Why not"..... Mike ('The Prof') |
| 29 Apr 11, 4:57 PM knightwish UK(CT), 7 yrs |
I found them quite boring and monotonous. Compared to Hugo or Balzac he is hardly a 2nd rate writer. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. E. A. Poe |
| 29 Apr 11, 4:57 PM not_lost_still_lady UK(PE), 22 mths      |
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom - which was based on one of his books is the closest that I have got to the Marquis Signature removed to make room for .... |
| 29 Apr 11, 5:16 PM Rosalee UK, 7 yrs |
I read most of 'Philosophy in the Bedroom' quite some years ago now. From what I remember I found some of it quite silly. I think there was an element of naughty boy writing rude stuff about it. Not necessarily a criticism. I think this gave it a sense of joie de vivre that was lacking in Sacher-Masoch's 'Venus in Furs' which I found dreary and gave up on very quickly. And there was the political element in 'Philosophy' that I hadn't been expecting. "It's 11.59 and I want to stay alive." |
| 29 Apr 11, 5:23 PM Ian_2007 UK(N), 4 yrs |
I concur with most of the above. His motivation, as far as I can see, was to simply shock the bourgeois of his day (in my weblog I've noted the similarity to at least one character from Dostoevsky). To this end, he mixed sexual invention, cruelty, blasphemy and homespun politics, but since he lacked any skill as a writer they all just come out seeming crude and ill thought out. Perhaps this marks the dawn of modern pornography, flat and lifeless as it is?
Then again, the bottom fixation would have been enough to put me off, no matter how good the rest of it was He wasn't even the first or the worst French pervert; one suspects that if it hadn't been for the time and place he lived, his work might have disappeared without trace. |
| 29 Apr 11, 5:23 PM Mad_Monk UK(BH), 4 yrs |
I've always enjoyed the Divine Marquis' jottings. I understood that they were primarily satires on the attitudes and conventions of the day, especially on matters of sexual prurience. He was very ahead of his time in suggesting that women too should have the types of sexual pleasure that they, personally, enjoyed, as and when they wanted it and with whomever. There is also the matter of his being incarcerated as mad to avoid very serious charges ('sodomy' being amongst them) made by several prostitutes and maidservants from his hometown. His effigy was burnt in his stead by the court, no doubt a statement of what to expect should he ever return. It was in his interest to 'play up to expectations' whilst being as annoying as possible for personal amusement.
"He took a single sip of her pain and found it exquisite" |
| 29 Apr 11, 5:47 PM Marquis_de_Camden UK(W), 20 mths |
Ahh, the second most perverted Marquis........
|
| 29 Apr 11, 6:15 PM kitty_can_has_rope UK(GU), 15 mths |
I have read Justine and have been reading 120 days of Sodom for some time (I've been reading it online and don't often get round to it) but am not particularly enjoying that one, I find it a bit repetitive and silly, and so far not especially appealing (I'm in the middle of the 2nd 30 days at the moment) I'm reading it purely from curiosity as to how bad it can get and I'm sure with some, probably futile hope that there might be something to enjoy at some point. I must confess I enjoyed some parts of Justine, although some parts made me feel sick (I'm squeamish with a vivid imagination). As to his writing skills, he comes across as a terrible writer, however I don't know if this is down to translation to English or not, if I ever have the opportunity, and time, to read a french copy I will make up my mind then.
I agree with a previous comment that he appears to be trying to shock people more than anything, with a political slant I'm not quite sure of due to my unfortunate ignorance of history
Why be difficult, when with little bit of effort you can be impossible? Edited 30 Apr 11, 10:40 AM by kitty_can_has_rope |
