The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings
by Marquis de Sade, Richard Seaver
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 499)
Come now, people. (Pun intended.) My only credible hypothesis regarding any high ratings given to this drivel is that people enjoy it from the age-old "teenage" perspective, wherein the anti-authoritarian and/or allegedly subversive teenager takes delight in advocating art, music, and literature which offends his parents' sensibilities, or those of mainstream society in general. I'm all about thumbing my proverbial nose at the ethical-powers-that-be, but from a strictly literary point ...more
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This book is disgusting, perverted, horrific, and violent. I love it. Sadly, de Sade only completed the first few chapters, and the majority of the work is in note-form.
The plot overview is simple. For five months, from November till March, four wealthy perverts and a host of other characters, including eight boys and eight girls (aged 12 to 15), eight studs, who are chosen by the size of their genitalia, the daughters of the four main characters, and four old, ugly women.
From month to ...more
The plot overview is simple. For five months, from November till March, four wealthy perverts and a host of other characters, including eight boys and eight girls (aged 12 to 15), eight studs, who are chosen by the size of their genitalia, the daughters of the four main characters, and four old, ugly women.
From month to ...more
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Theres this awesome short story in here called "Florville and Courval" (or "The Works of Fate") about this virtuous and moral woman, Florville, who was orphaned but is proposed to by an old well-off gentleman, Courval. She tells him that she can't marry him unless he knows about all the "sins" shes committed in her life. She was sent away to stay with her caretaker's sister who is the older libertine teacher-figure that pops up in almost every de Sade story. She co...more
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Read in January, 2001
I read this primarily to see what all the fuss was about and surpirsed myself by actually admiring it. It is an interesting satire on the indulgences of 18th century aristocracy and the degree of arrogance that went with them. Their belief that their wealth and status allowed them to do as they pleased is brillianty portrayed. This book is not a platform for the sick ravings of a pervert and anyone who sees only the deviancy is missing the whole point of the novel, it is a comment on the times a...more
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Read in January, 1996
I think everyone wants to read this for the pure shock and awe. I believe that most people can't get through the Marquis' writings, it's too much. Quite the opposite; the more revolting the more I was attracted. I wanted to see just how far he would go for the sake of story telling. What may have initially made my toes curl had me howling by the end of the scene. Another book that made me appreciate those living on the outside, much like the person I have always been. Although, I've been t...more
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Read in February, 1976
Absolutely the most obssessive & intense bk I've ever read. I got a hard-on from it at the same time that I was utterly horrified. De Sade knew what he was doing & was completely unrestrained. The main story here is about 4 bigwigs who kidnap a shitload of people, including kids, & then torture & sexually abuse them to death. Structurally, it's mostly a list of permutations on degradations &, as such, is a bit tedious as writing. But De Sade just lets it all hang out. I...more
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A kind of systematic abuse of human intellect is characteristic of those who can do away with it. I think that this is de Sade's historical perspective as prisoner of the French revolution, a conflict of ideas that ended in totalitarianism. It was a remarkable book to me only in the sense that de Sade could bring to light with Voltaire. The satire is a complete one within the hierarchy of pre-revolutionary France, within the abomination of hierarchy in the sexes and of sex, and within the numero...more
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Read in January, 2008
Makes Chuck Palahniuk look like Beverly Cleary. The best part is it was written almost 225 years ago. Surprisingly easy to read despite its age, assuming you have the stomach for it. Beyond the shock value, it's actually top notch satire of the overindulgence of France's social elite during the rule of Louis XIII.
As a bonus, it contains some other writings of De Sade's (including an amazing roided up take on Oedipus Rex) as well as some criticisms of his work, which throw some historical c...more
As a bonus, it contains some other writings of De Sade's (including an amazing roided up take on Oedipus Rex) as well as some criticisms of his work, which throw some historical c...more
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the 120 days in sodom starts off with a defined narrative, its a real story. then by the end its just a list of messed up stuff that went on. i dont know who the author was pandering to, put by the waning parts its obvious hes just making lists of the most base, cruel and degrading acts he can think if. Like a tacobell menu he revers to combinations of the same scant obscenity in different values trying to create "NEW" and "EXITING" for the readers now jaded sensibility.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Almost nobody
If the content doesn't get you, then the listing will. The first part is really the only part that's written out mildly well, and it's all about shit. The rest of it is just a bunch of lists.
Sure it's an interesting look into human sexuality (kind of) but, as far as writing's concerned, it's pretty bad.
The "Other Writings" in this edition were much better. The story of Flourville and Courval was crazy.
Sure it's an interesting look into human sexuality (kind of) but, as far as writing's concerned, it's pretty bad.
The "Other Writings" in this edition were much better. The story of Flourville and Courval was crazy.
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Read in April, 2005
recommends it for:
Mature Readers
Este mas que una obra literaria parece mas bien un manual de "Que hacer si estas aburrido y estas trastornado" es muy divertido, pero tengo que confesar que a mitad de los consejos mas perversos lo deje de leer un tiempo, porque se le pierde el chiste, ya que no es historia... solo viles isntrucciones sadicas :D
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Read in January, 1997
I obviously never finished this book. I checked out when digits started to come off at the orgies, but I gave it a shot. Thanks for lending this to me F. Dok wherever you are. I highly recommend that everyone buy this book just to see the look on peoples' faces when they look at your book shelf.
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I started to get into this story, however it basically melted into a list of perversions. The plot is not lacking, but the story certainly is. Sade is a fantastic storyteller, but I recommend reading Justine instead of 120 Days of Sodom--this one was much more for shock factor.
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Read in January, 1987
Im pretty sure I was ten, it was my first ever encounter with erotic writing and when my parents would leave for a few hours I would sneak into their room and read. I think it was right around the time when I started to feel all funny...down there:)
oh the childhood books.
oh the childhood books.
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recommends it for:
Jessica
this book is the most loathsome, disgusting, sexually depraved, horrific and perverted thing i have ever read; but most of the time i could not put it down until i became nausious.Look intothe mind of a demonic genius- a must read by the master of lust.
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Read in January, 2007
i actually just read this in-between workstuff XD so it might be a while before i finish. both the french text and the english translation are available online, excellent way to pass the time (this is clearly not much of a review).
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Read in March, 2008
Read this book in French and English. Plan to translate in Farsi with a team. Great piece of world literature. Timeless: could be written today.
Can just suggest all of you to be courageous and patient to spell it word by word.
Can just suggest all of you to be courageous and patient to spell it word by word.
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دارم این کتاب رو ترجمه میکنم اما خیلی متون سختی داره. با زبان واسط که یه کم کار رو سخت و روند رو کند میکنه اما تمومش میکنم
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I saw the movie Quills, and then I was interested in the Marquis de Sade. Very erotic...in a very weird way. This man probably was crazy. But, if you read it from a historical point of view...pretty interesting.
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It's like a train wreck of sex, filth, and debauchery...in the 18th century France. Easily the most disgusting and perverse piece of lierature I've ever read.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.61 (344 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.60 (339 ratings) number of reviews: 49popular shelves
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"Sexual pleasure is, I agree, a passion to which all others are subordinate but in which they all unite."
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