"Justine", "Philosophy in the Bedroom" and Other Writings

View books by Marquis de Sade.

For fans and followers only - Rated
What makes de Sade's work facinating and interesting is his philosophy and throught provoking messages.
Yet, he remains a very untalented and boring writer, a fact many of his 'fans' and 'followers' overlook. His writings are mostly used to sell his idea and do not follow a plot or show any imagination.
Individuals who harbour an interest in crime, vice, evil and sadism will enjoy these writings, no doubt. But for the majority it is a boring and a tedious read, full of revolting images and beliefes that make one doubt the conciousness of publishers.

Personally I found his ideas worth of attention, but imposibble to read the book without skipping pages. It is facinating to dip into the mind of a criminal and someone who lost his human nature.

Yet I would not recomend it for anyone who has not a genuin obsession with de Sade or crime.

A book that shows the other side - Rated
People intrested in sadomasochistic sex are often thought of as people who are on the fringe of society, as people who have not learnt the rules and who cannot fit in. Sade however was obviously very intelligent, his philosophies are well thought out and contain ingenious analogies. Having studied numerous similar religeous theologies for several years I found it was very stimulating to read a convincing argument of the contrary. He does a good job of making a life of vice and selfishness sound a excusable path to choose. One last point, I think the Dialogue between a priest and a dying man is one of the most thought provoking pieces I have ever read.

It's funny how a book about eroticism has so many reviews... - Rated
"The supreme value of his testimony lies in its ability to disturb us. It forces us to reexamine thoroughly the basic problem which haunts our age in different forms:the true relation between man and man." - Simone de Beauvoir

"Justine is the most abominable book ever engendered by the most depraved imagination." - Napoleon Bonaparte

Was Napoleon really disturbed by these novels (or did he test out these static plots on his own)? How unsuccessful could this book really be if someone like Naploeon was repulsed by the story of 'Justine'? And why do so many people comment on this book, as opposed to other books that have a higher sales rank according to Amazon.com, when only a mere several thousand copies have been purchased? Aren't you curious?

It's funny how a book about eroticism has so many reviews... - Rated
"The supreme value of his testimony lies in its ability to disturb us. It forces uss to reexamine thoroughly the basic problem which haunts our age in different forms:the true relation between man and man." - Simone de Beauvoir

"Justine is the most abominable book ever engendered by the most depraved imagination." - Napoleon Bonaparte

Was Napoleon really disturbed by these novels (or did he test out these static plots on his own)? How unsuccessful could this book really be if someone like Naploeon was repulsed by the story of 'Justine'? And why do so many people comment on this book, as opposed to other books that have a higher sales rank according to Amazon.com, when only a couple thousand copies have been purchased? Aren't you curious?

Interesting Philosophy - Rated
Sades philosophy, that virtue by its very nature cannot withstand against vice, is thought provoking and it is for this that these stories are worth taking a look at. The writing style, though, can be a bit tiresome. The characters are all one-dimensional and many times Sade writes pages and pages of descriptive narrative that goes absolutely nowhere except right back to where it began. Not for the impatient.