Position:Home>Books & Authors> Has anyone read books by the Marquis de Sade?

Yes, as a college kid I read the Marquis de Sade-- the books were surrounded by such leering when spoken of, curiosity got the better of me!. I read 'Justine!.' That's the only book I recall!.
http://www!.amazon!.com
I went to this source, link above, to see about de Sade's life, and in a book about his 'philosophy,' one that I could open and read, I see that de Sade always wrote a tremendous amount, usually plays, none produced (they are said to be 'boring')!.

I also see that the man began his novel writing (after a 'libertine' life) at 42, when he also (later that year) began his career as a prisoner!. He was put in prison for his books (this should give you a clue how the books survived!.!.!. any publicity like that will whet the appetites of many readers) and kept there for other reasons: crimes held up to judges by prostitutes who accused him of many things; crimes he swore he never committed!.
At any rate, he was in jail for most of the rest of his life, the latter part spent in an asylum for years!. He put his plays on inside there and was duly stopped; the plays led the other inmates to behavior too raucous even for an asylum!. De Sade's son burned every manuscript by the elder de Sade upon the Marquis' death!.

My thoughts on 'Justine' were mixed, as were my thoughts on many things in college!. I thought it was shocking, but had also seen a magazine (Hustler) approaching its vulgarity!. Yet nothing I'd read before (or since) achieved the complete lack of regard for life and will shown in 'Justine!.'
'Free press' is cried in many western countries, and there are always authors, even before that concept, who will push the outside of the vulgarity envelope!.
De Sade did that, and whoever reads his work (which he would at one time deny writing and at other times boast about writing; which he said were 'real' at one time, 'fake' at others) should do so with full knowledge about what they're getting into!.

I didn't have that knowledge at the time I read a book by him, and I guess you didn't either!. The books still manage sell and to 'shock' people however, and perhaps that's the sign of classics of sorts!.
Makes you shiver a bit, eh!? De Sade was not just kind of boring (I found him to be so in sections of 'Justine') he also wrote about sickening things, which were, perhaps, rather common in his life!. One thing always remains true: people differ!.
That's a good thing!.
Can't have descriptions of rape, murder and worse in every book written, can we!? Unreasonable claptrap, open for the unwary!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I've read a bit of Justine and yes, the content is quite disturbing (but probably not as much as 120 Days of Sodom, which I haven't read)!. One of my profs said that De Sade was "extreme" and cautioned me to start with Justine, which is probably the tamest of his books!.
You might want to consider Maldoror by Lautreamont!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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No I haven't but when I was in high school ( 18 years ago! ) People talked about it and I was always curious to read it but I never wanted anyone to actually see me reading it, or have to hide and read it!. :)

What is it like!?


EDIT: Ewww!. I know I won't be reading that book!. I have read alot of books as well most of them being murder/mystery, true crime that sort of thing!.

I just don't think I could stomach reading about someone doing stuff like that to kids!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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