Presenting erotic books: Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons)
There have been a number of hot movies and TV series made after one of the most famous books in the world.
A scene from Dangerous Liaisons adapted for the modern American society. (PhotoXpress)
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Promiscuous high society at the end of the 18th century
This novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos reveals the erotic scheming of aristocrats at the end of the 18th century. Dangerous Liaisons, or Les liaisons dangereuses, is one of the most famous books in the world. There have been many movies, radio and television shows made after it. It was also made into an opera, a ballet and of course a theatre play. Laclos has even been compared to the infamous Marquis de Sade. Aristocratic love affairs and debauchery are revealed through letters from several characters. Laclos presents the high society as extremely promiscuous, without real love and even less loyalty.
Wicked seducers
There are several people involved in written correspondence, but the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont hold all the cards. They’re rivals, co-workers and lovers. Others are like puppets in their hands and their letters serve only as additional illustration of their acts: seduction, revenge, malice. They use sex as a weapon to humiliate and degrade others.
Fragonard’s illustration for the 10th letter (1796).
Marquise de Merteuil wants to take revenge on her former lover by “ruining” his bride to be – she naturally ruins her with sex. At first she wants to use a young man that little Cécile de Volanges loves, but this plan doesn’t happen. But she has an even better option: The Vicomte de Valmont. The marquise decided that the marquise’s lover can’t get a virgin bride. But not only that – Cécile should come into the marriage as ruined and debauched as is possible.
The Vicomte de Valmont has fun with Cécile, but is also trying to win the heart of the virtuous and loyal president de Tourvel. He falls in love with Cécile in his attempts and his female colleague and rival when it comes to humiliating lovers becomes jealous. The marquise thus starts scheming against him as well, which brings disaster for both of them.
Fragonard’s illustration for the 44th letter (1796).
Erotically charges atmosphere
There are some interesting thoughts about the nature of male and female love in the book. It says that the inclination towards only one person, which is so typical of love, is only a kind of choice for a man, more like a means to increase pleasure, which some other woman might weaken, but not prevent. With women this is a deep emotion which suppresses all other desires and is even stronger than nature and so independent from it that it makes women feel repulsion and disgust when they should be feeling lust.
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