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La Mère de Dieu
"La Mère de Dieu", de Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch, traduit par Anna-Catherine Strebinger. Publié par Good Press. Good Press publie un large éventail d'ouvrages, où sont inclus tous les genres littéraires. Les choix éditoriaux des éditions Good Press ne se limitent pas aux grands classiques, à la fiction et à la non-fiction littéraire. Ils englobent également les trésors, oubliés ou à découvrir, de la littérature mondiale. Nous publions les livres qu'il faut avoir lu. Chaque ouvrage publié par Good Press a été édité et mis en forme avec soin, afin d'optimiser le confort de lecture, sur liseuse ou tablette. Notre mission est d'élaborer des e-books faciles à utiliser, accessibles au plus grand nombre, dans un format numérique de qualité supérieure.
- Genres19th Century
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1883
About the author
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
398 books345 followersAustrian writer and journalist, who gained renown for his romantic stories of Galician life. The term masochism is derived from his name.
During his lifetime, Sacher-Masoch was well known as a man of letters, a utopian thinker who espoused socialist and humanist ideals in his fiction and non-fiction. Most of his works remain untranslated into English. The novel Venus in Furs is his only book commonly available in English.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_...
During his lifetime, Sacher-Masoch was well known as a man of letters, a utopian thinker who espoused socialist and humanist ideals in his fiction and non-fiction. Most of his works remain untranslated into English. The novel Venus in Furs is his only book commonly available in English.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 23, 2016
The last time I had checked, Venus in Furs was the only book by Sacher-Masoch that was available in English. However the other day I found that a translation of his 1883 novel Die Gottesmutter was published in 2015 as The Mother of God. It was translated by William Holmes and is available on Amazon. I'm guessing that it is a self-published translation as there are no publisher details on my kindle version. From the details on the Amazon page it's a bit unclear whether Holmes translated it directly from the German or from the French translation, La Mère de Dieu. I really didn't know what to expect but the Amazon blurb made it sound promising.
The story begins by describing Sabadil, a thirty-year old peasant from Solisko who likes spending time alone wandering in the forest. On one of his walks he stops to look in a pond and is surprised when he sees a beautiful woman's face appear next to his in the reflection. Although he hadn't heard her approach he finds that she is indeed standing next to him.
Sabadil begins visiting Mardona and sees that she is indeed revered by the other villagers. Although Sabadil is accepted into their life he does not worship Mardona as a God as the others do; he is, however, in love with her. Sabadil gets drawn further into the sect and it becomes apparent that everything is not as rosy as it first appeared. Not everyone is happy with the situation and the position of 'Mother of God', being essentially an elected position, has to be defended against usurpers. When Mardona feels that her position is under attack she feels it necessary to issue severe punishments on those who are deemed guilty. When Sofia, a young attractive woman, is judged to be guilty of adultery she is taken out, dragged through the streets and stoned by the others. Only Mardona's intervention prevents the crowd from killing her. While witnessing this Sabadil is horrified and mesmerised by it and also a little turned on.
Possibly one of the most interesting characters in this book is Sukalou. He's introduced as a comic figure, basically someone who is constantly hungry and begs food from others whilst pretending to be an ascetic who has been fasting for days. Here is how his entrance is described:
I won't reveal any more of the story as it would spoil it for anyone who fancies reading the book for themselves. The ending is particularly powerful and a little unexpected although we can see which way the story is heading. But as powerful as the ending is, curiously, the translator decided that he didn't particularly like it and decided to write a few more chapters. I have to say that I disagree with him and prefer the way that the original novel cuts off at the most dramatic point. There is nothing particularly wrong with Holmes' added chapters as they form a type of epilogue to the story but I don't think it adds anything to the novel. At least we are warned that these chapters have been written by the translator and so can decide for ourselves whether to read them or not. As far as I can tell the translation was excellent and the style of the novel was very readable. The translator also included many notes that I found useful.
The Mother of God would certainly be interesting for anyone who's read Venus in Furs not least because it also shows Sacher-Masoch's obsessions of dominant females, subservient males and the abuses of power that appeared in his more famous book. But it does show what a great storyteller he was and that he could incorporate his obsessions into different types of stories and the novel is easily as good as 'Venus', maybe better. I'd love to read more by him.
The story begins by describing Sabadil, a thirty-year old peasant from Solisko who likes spending time alone wandering in the forest. On one of his walks he stops to look in a pond and is surprised when he sees a beautiful woman's face appear next to his in the reflection. Although he hadn't heard her approach he finds that she is indeed standing next to him.
At his side now stood a young woman, strongly built and tall, so much so that she was looking down on him, even though he was of medium height. Her face was that of a Madonna with a white complexion, delicately tinted pink. Her blonde hair, with tawny highlights, was braided and arranged in heavy layers on top of her head. The stranger wore tall red leather boots, a percale skirt in bright colours and a dark green cloth corsage mounted on a shirt of dazzling whiteness.Sabadil's heart is pounding and there's a buzzing sound in his ears; he's smitten. He tries to engage her in conversation and is soon picking flowers for her and helping her crosss streams. Sabadil's subservience seems natural to her and Sabadil is attracted to her 'natural, cold and majestic' manner. When he tries to kiss her she evades him and says that it is a sin for him to touch her and she escapes. After a period of time he tracks her down to a neighbouring village called Fargowiza-polna and first sees her driving a horse-drawn cart with a whip in her hand and later she appeared to be ordering others about. He learns from a little girl that she is called 'The Mother of God' and later discovers her name is Mardona. He discovers from a Jewish trader that Mardona is part of a Christian sect called the Duchobarzen who have no priests, marry and divorce freely and worship the Mother of God who is believed to be the manifestation of the Virgin Mary.
Sabadil begins visiting Mardona and sees that she is indeed revered by the other villagers. Although Sabadil is accepted into their life he does not worship Mardona as a God as the others do; he is, however, in love with her. Sabadil gets drawn further into the sect and it becomes apparent that everything is not as rosy as it first appeared. Not everyone is happy with the situation and the position of 'Mother of God', being essentially an elected position, has to be defended against usurpers. When Mardona feels that her position is under attack she feels it necessary to issue severe punishments on those who are deemed guilty. When Sofia, a young attractive woman, is judged to be guilty of adultery she is taken out, dragged through the streets and stoned by the others. Only Mardona's intervention prevents the crowd from killing her. While witnessing this Sabadil is horrified and mesmerised by it and also a little turned on.
Sabadil stood at some distance away, observing Mardona closely. He never had seen her so beautiful, despite her angry face and quivering lips.The sect, however, is part of a larger world and can't hide from the police and accusations of attempted murder. But Mardona is quite capable of manipulating those outside of the sect as well as those within - she just has to use different tactics.
Possibly one of the most interesting characters in this book is Sukalou. He's introduced as a comic figure, basically someone who is constantly hungry and begs food from others whilst pretending to be an ascetic who has been fasting for days. Here is how his entrance is described:
Suddenly a man arrived who immediately caught Sabadil's attention, or, rather, did not arrive. He simply poked his nose, long and pointed, through the gap in the barely opened door, followed by his bald head, revealing a face with blinking eyes and ears adorned with thick silver rings. [...] But he did not come in right away. A few moments passed; then his long neck extended through the opening in the door. After this came a boot with a worn heel and finally Sukalou in person dressed in an extremely long light blue coat. He remained near the door, drew from his pocket a small birch bark snuff box, delicately pinched a little of the tobacco between finger and thumb and snuffed it with a triumphant air, as if challenging everyone to do likewise.Although a comical figure, he also gets involved in some of the political manoeuvrings and subsequent punishments.
I won't reveal any more of the story as it would spoil it for anyone who fancies reading the book for themselves. The ending is particularly powerful and a little unexpected although we can see which way the story is heading. But as powerful as the ending is, curiously, the translator decided that he didn't particularly like it and decided to write a few more chapters. I have to say that I disagree with him and prefer the way that the original novel cuts off at the most dramatic point. There is nothing particularly wrong with Holmes' added chapters as they form a type of epilogue to the story but I don't think it adds anything to the novel. At least we are warned that these chapters have been written by the translator and so can decide for ourselves whether to read them or not. As far as I can tell the translation was excellent and the style of the novel was very readable. The translator also included many notes that I found useful.
The Mother of God would certainly be interesting for anyone who's read Venus in Furs not least because it also shows Sacher-Masoch's obsessions of dominant females, subservient males and the abuses of power that appeared in his more famous book. But it does show what a great storyteller he was and that he could incorporate his obsessions into different types of stories and the novel is easily as good as 'Venus', maybe better. I'd love to read more by him.
June 2, 2017
This was actually the first time that I read Masoch (I learned him through Deleuze)... the novel is undeniably great, powerful and so consistent. And I'm so amazed that this book hadn't been translated into English until 2015 (seriously! why?)
Those who haven't read this fantastic novel should know that this book has two endings. The Masoch's ending is particularly powerful and AMAZINGLY so modern! I would strongly suggest to not go beyond Masoch's ending. You will realize that the translator, William Holmes, has decided to continue the novel and make his own ending for the story which is to me so boring (I appreciate his effort of translating, but his ending.... ? to be honest, looks like 1950s American movies that were forced to have a moral endings).
Anyway, I strongly recommend it! Enjoy!
Those who haven't read this fantastic novel should know that this book has two endings. The Masoch's ending is particularly powerful and AMAZINGLY so modern! I would strongly suggest to not go beyond Masoch's ending. You will realize that the translator, William Holmes, has decided to continue the novel and make his own ending for the story which is to me so boring (I appreciate his effort of translating, but his ending.... ? to be honest, looks like 1950s American movies that were forced to have a moral endings).
Anyway, I strongly recommend it! Enjoy!
June 4, 2019
I'm really fond of Sacher-Masoch's novels, and although Die Gottersmutter did not live up to Venus in Furs, it was actually great for its eerie depiction of Slavic folklore. Which, going political, was indeed a subtle and visually endearing portrayal of the author's dream of a pan-Slavic unity, girdled with the absolutely flawless taste in aesthetics Sacher-Masoch has accustomed the reader to.
March 25, 2017
Forse in esso l'eterna essenza di Masoch che in pochi conoscono e comprendono. Uno dei suoi romanzi più belli, non sarebbe collocato nella letteratura erotica se non per il nome "Sacher-Masoch". Stupendo.
February 23, 2016
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch was born on January 27, 1836 in the city now known as Lviv in Ukraine. At the time, the city was in the Galicia region of Austria-Hungary and was called Lemberg. His early books were mostly non-fiction historical treatises written while he was a professor at the University of Lviv while his later works were short stories and novels.
Sacher-Masoch's 1870 novel Venus in Furs is his most commonly available book in English. The Mother of God was originally published in Leipzig as Die Gottesmutter in 1883. This is its first translation into English. The translator, William Holmes, is a semi-retired anaesthetist from Northern Ireland. Not liking the abrupt ending, Holmes not only translated the book, but added three additional chapters to the end "to bring it to a more satisfactory ending."
I do not agree with Holmes decision to tack on three additional chapters of what can only be thought of as fan fiction to a 132 year old novel. His writing style is not the same, and he shifts the point of view from Sabadil to Mardona. I feel that Sacher-Masoch ended the story abruptly so that the reader would look back into the text for deeper meanings, not project a satisfactory ending. Fortunately, it is very clear in the book that this was done and the reader can view the extra chapters as the translator's work and not the authors. Holmes' translation flows well and where there are references that might not be clear to a modern English-speaking readership, he provides helpful notes to explain them or their significance.
The book tells the story of Sabadil, a 30 year old introverted farmer from the countryside around what is now Kolomyya, Ukraine. He prefers to walk in the woods alone and listen to birds singing rather than to socialize with his neighbors. On one of these solitary excursions he meets and becomes enthralled with Mardona, the charismatic young female leader of a Christian sect of a neighboring village called the Duchobarzen. Known to her followers as the Mother of God, Mardona is treated by them with unquestioning devotion, and has become a spoiled tyrant, yet she feels a strange attraction to Sabadil and his infatuation with her.
The Duchobarzen may have been modeled on the Dukhobors who were a 19th century Russian sect known for pacifism, egalitarianism, and communal living that used the life of Jesus to guide their faith and practice. The Duchobarzen of this novel were a community of a couple hundred farmers who are guided by the wisdom of Mardona and who live a simple life of prosperity, hard work, and communal living.
Mardona's divine love for her community is all-encompassing and egalitarian but isolating. Placed above them, they worship her as a divinity in their midst, kneeling before her and kissing her boots, and treating her every word as sacred. Coming from outside the community, Sabadil's love for her is the human love of a man for a woman. This is a new experience for Mardona, whose other lovers have always been intimidated by her divine nature, and she likes it, but doesn't know how to respond. As she makes Sabadil part of the community, she treats him like a pet that she strokes and keeps by her side.
Through his eyes we see the tension grow between his unrequited love and her annoyance at his failure to fit into the community until it reaches an explosive and shocking ending. This is a novel filled with details of 19th century farming life in central Europe and it is a fascinating look at the experience of divine and human love.
Sacher-Masoch is known to modern readers for his writings on the theme of powerful women and the men who become fascinated and enthralled by them. He was also well known in his own time for his writings about the local ethnic groups of central Europe and their customs. The Mother of God combines these two themes and shows the author at the peak of his literary career.
Sacher-Masoch's 1870 novel Venus in Furs is his most commonly available book in English. The Mother of God was originally published in Leipzig as Die Gottesmutter in 1883. This is its first translation into English. The translator, William Holmes, is a semi-retired anaesthetist from Northern Ireland. Not liking the abrupt ending, Holmes not only translated the book, but added three additional chapters to the end "to bring it to a more satisfactory ending."
I do not agree with Holmes decision to tack on three additional chapters of what can only be thought of as fan fiction to a 132 year old novel. His writing style is not the same, and he shifts the point of view from Sabadil to Mardona. I feel that Sacher-Masoch ended the story abruptly so that the reader would look back into the text for deeper meanings, not project a satisfactory ending. Fortunately, it is very clear in the book that this was done and the reader can view the extra chapters as the translator's work and not the authors. Holmes' translation flows well and where there are references that might not be clear to a modern English-speaking readership, he provides helpful notes to explain them or their significance.
The book tells the story of Sabadil, a 30 year old introverted farmer from the countryside around what is now Kolomyya, Ukraine. He prefers to walk in the woods alone and listen to birds singing rather than to socialize with his neighbors. On one of these solitary excursions he meets and becomes enthralled with Mardona, the charismatic young female leader of a Christian sect of a neighboring village called the Duchobarzen. Known to her followers as the Mother of God, Mardona is treated by them with unquestioning devotion, and has become a spoiled tyrant, yet she feels a strange attraction to Sabadil and his infatuation with her.
The Duchobarzen may have been modeled on the Dukhobors who were a 19th century Russian sect known for pacifism, egalitarianism, and communal living that used the life of Jesus to guide their faith and practice. The Duchobarzen of this novel were a community of a couple hundred farmers who are guided by the wisdom of Mardona and who live a simple life of prosperity, hard work, and communal living.
Mardona's divine love for her community is all-encompassing and egalitarian but isolating. Placed above them, they worship her as a divinity in their midst, kneeling before her and kissing her boots, and treating her every word as sacred. Coming from outside the community, Sabadil's love for her is the human love of a man for a woman. This is a new experience for Mardona, whose other lovers have always been intimidated by her divine nature, and she likes it, but doesn't know how to respond. As she makes Sabadil part of the community, she treats him like a pet that she strokes and keeps by her side.
Through his eyes we see the tension grow between his unrequited love and her annoyance at his failure to fit into the community until it reaches an explosive and shocking ending. This is a novel filled with details of 19th century farming life in central Europe and it is a fascinating look at the experience of divine and human love.
Sacher-Masoch is known to modern readers for his writings on the theme of powerful women and the men who become fascinated and enthralled by them. He was also well known in his own time for his writings about the local ethnic groups of central Europe and their customs. The Mother of God combines these two themes and shows the author at the peak of his literary career.
September 4, 2026
A great novel with great stories and great characters. I ended up staying up until 7 o'clock in the morning to read the last few chapters. I didn't read Holmes's addition to the text as I thought the ending was perfect for this story.
*Huge spoiler about the ending right away here*
I would advise other readers to skip the last 3 chapters too. The translator noted in the foreword that the original ending left his mind "up in the air" and at the end he added that it was an "anticlimax" and "without satisfactory ending" but I don't see why. This is not nearly as abrupt as most of the russian realism books at all. And the ambiguous and seemingly endless cycle of the conflict was clearly intentional. Whether Madonna leadership was ended by the officials or would Sophie succeed this time was not the point because as long as human exist in this world this conflict will continue. This is not a children's story where we needed to be shown that the bad guys got what they deserve or if true love prevails. I think the original text gave a much better story for readers than the bickering soap opera like the conclusion of the second trial would bring.
I like Sabadil as the main character. As the outsider he had the most clarity looking into these religious fanatics. Except when it came to Madonna who he was completely besotted by. I like the way Sabadil's emotions about Madonna were expressed so differently than how he felt about Nimfodora. He was interrogated by Sophie and Madonna about who he actually loved but we didn't need him to answer at all to know. Which is genius writing. He answered this question differently each time he was asked but as far as I read it was clear to me he was infatuated with Madonna. She was exactly his type sexually and she knew that and used it while he couldn't help himself. While he loved Nimfodora in a different, arguably healthier way.
It is also interesting that the female characters in this book are the plot drivers. Even though the main narrator is Sabadil but he didn't have much control of the story at all. Madonna was obviously effectively a power hungry, narcissist but charismatic cult leader. While other women in the story were active players and the men, even the traditionally, secularly, powerful men, like the policemen and the judge were just being influenced by the women. I don't think this is a very common way to tell a story for the time it was written. And it's done really well. It didn't feel forced at all.
The story itself seems to be a satire of religious people and how people used religion for personal reasons. The characters are not just fanatics, crazy, or stupid. Not everyone seems to believe in "god". I like how ambiguous Madonna belief was even to the end. The range of the characters psychology was also impressive. It's rare that a writer can make this many realistic female characters. No one was just bad or good or behave consistently all the time. They all feel human with agency and failings. I hated Madonna half way through and continued to hate her more and more because she felt like a real person I would honestly despise. Even someone innocent like Nimfodora showed how the lack of malicious intent for others alone isn't moral. Weak will and the lack of critical thinking can still make you an accessory to horrible things.
I read this book after I read Venus in Furs partly because I was curious about this writer and I'm glad I read this one. Venus in Furs was a story about a subjective experience of a submissive man. While this book is about much broader ideas about religion convictions and human agency. As we followed the story, the question of "is Madonna truly an agent of god?" Became less and less important. But we are just reading a story of the world where religion is the absolute social structure and every character have an agency to navigate it their own way. This is such a unique and interesting way to write a story.
Actually this book reminds me a bit of The Amber Witch by Wilhelm Meinhold. Religious satire. Without the clear intention to ridicule the fanatics. A character who was innocent but failed to improve the situation. A woman with a godlike vibe. The characters who used religion for their own personal reasons. But The Amber Witch got a satisfying ending and was more melodramatic and had a clear criticism. Masoch didn't exactly judge the devout Christians but certainly had a more cynical opinion about them.
Masoch's obvious fetish of authoritative women wearing fur is kinda clear after I read Venus in Furs and this book. I guessed that his kink allowed him to have a unique perception of women and power in the way not a lot of people had even to this day. And it certainly influenced the writing. Nonetheless I think this book deserved to be read without seeing everything through the lens of the author's fetish. It's literally an impressive, unique and insightful story to tell. The prose is beautiful and emotional. As we witnessed a rise of right wing ideology again these days I think it's a valuable book to read now.
*Huge spoiler about the ending right away here*
I would advise other readers to skip the last 3 chapters too. The translator noted in the foreword that the original ending left his mind "up in the air" and at the end he added that it was an "anticlimax" and "without satisfactory ending" but I don't see why. This is not nearly as abrupt as most of the russian realism books at all. And the ambiguous and seemingly endless cycle of the conflict was clearly intentional. Whether Madonna leadership was ended by the officials or would Sophie succeed this time was not the point because as long as human exist in this world this conflict will continue. This is not a children's story where we needed to be shown that the bad guys got what they deserve or if true love prevails. I think the original text gave a much better story for readers than the bickering soap opera like the conclusion of the second trial would bring.
I like Sabadil as the main character. As the outsider he had the most clarity looking into these religious fanatics. Except when it came to Madonna who he was completely besotted by. I like the way Sabadil's emotions about Madonna were expressed so differently than how he felt about Nimfodora. He was interrogated by Sophie and Madonna about who he actually loved but we didn't need him to answer at all to know. Which is genius writing. He answered this question differently each time he was asked but as far as I read it was clear to me he was infatuated with Madonna. She was exactly his type sexually and she knew that and used it while he couldn't help himself. While he loved Nimfodora in a different, arguably healthier way.
It is also interesting that the female characters in this book are the plot drivers. Even though the main narrator is Sabadil but he didn't have much control of the story at all. Madonna was obviously effectively a power hungry, narcissist but charismatic cult leader. While other women in the story were active players and the men, even the traditionally, secularly, powerful men, like the policemen and the judge were just being influenced by the women. I don't think this is a very common way to tell a story for the time it was written. And it's done really well. It didn't feel forced at all.
The story itself seems to be a satire of religious people and how people used religion for personal reasons. The characters are not just fanatics, crazy, or stupid. Not everyone seems to believe in "god". I like how ambiguous Madonna belief was even to the end. The range of the characters psychology was also impressive. It's rare that a writer can make this many realistic female characters. No one was just bad or good or behave consistently all the time. They all feel human with agency and failings. I hated Madonna half way through and continued to hate her more and more because she felt like a real person I would honestly despise. Even someone innocent like Nimfodora showed how the lack of malicious intent for others alone isn't moral. Weak will and the lack of critical thinking can still make you an accessory to horrible things.
I read this book after I read Venus in Furs partly because I was curious about this writer and I'm glad I read this one. Venus in Furs was a story about a subjective experience of a submissive man. While this book is about much broader ideas about religion convictions and human agency. As we followed the story, the question of "is Madonna truly an agent of god?" Became less and less important. But we are just reading a story of the world where religion is the absolute social structure and every character have an agency to navigate it their own way. This is such a unique and interesting way to write a story.
Actually this book reminds me a bit of The Amber Witch by Wilhelm Meinhold. Religious satire. Without the clear intention to ridicule the fanatics. A character who was innocent but failed to improve the situation. A woman with a godlike vibe. The characters who used religion for their own personal reasons. But The Amber Witch got a satisfying ending and was more melodramatic and had a clear criticism. Masoch didn't exactly judge the devout Christians but certainly had a more cynical opinion about them.
Masoch's obvious fetish of authoritative women wearing fur is kinda clear after I read Venus in Furs and this book. I guessed that his kink allowed him to have a unique perception of women and power in the way not a lot of people had even to this day. And it certainly influenced the writing. Nonetheless I think this book deserved to be read without seeing everything through the lens of the author's fetish. It's literally an impressive, unique and insightful story to tell. The prose is beautiful and emotional. As we witnessed a rise of right wing ideology again these days I think it's a valuable book to read now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2026
I want to start off mentioning that I’m very grateful this book is translated to English at all. Holmes translated this independently is likely not gaining much for his work, so to me it seems he clearly did this for the love of the game. I did however find the wording and flow of the text kind of awkward, but I’m willing to overlook it since I’m thankful it exists at all. I found the notes the author left helpful too.
As for the story itself, I was a huge fan of Venus in Furs but I never saw myself engaged to this book’s story at all and only really finished it because I had started it. The characters are quite two dimensional and have a very nothing dynamic. I don’t know how to word it, but if the text didn’t explicitly mention how Sabadil and Mardonna felt towards each other you wouldn’t know it.
Also there is little to no psychological reasoning as to why Sabadil is so in love with her even though he met her one time and then instantly became obsessed with her, even though their interaction was very dry. One of the most absurd scenes is when Mardonna gets angrily yelled at by a frustrated character for an entire paragraph, and then she talks for like a second and then he randomly decides he’s obsessed with her too. The book clearly tries to convince you she has a magical charm to her but has nothing to show for it, it comes off as cheap.
Not only is the two main peoples’ character and relationship uninteresting, but the cult element is just not as entertaining as you’d think it would be. I’m a big fan of cult stories, but this felt very empty and uninspired.
Venus in Furs gave you an Intresting insight of a perverse man’s psyche while also making you wonder where the line is drawn between fetishism and abuse, and wether the harm Severin is put under is his fault of Wanda’s.
The Godmother gives you an insight onto why this text has not been translated since the 1800s
As for the story itself, I was a huge fan of Venus in Furs but I never saw myself engaged to this book’s story at all and only really finished it because I had started it. The characters are quite two dimensional and have a very nothing dynamic. I don’t know how to word it, but if the text didn’t explicitly mention how Sabadil and Mardonna felt towards each other you wouldn’t know it.
Also there is little to no psychological reasoning as to why Sabadil is so in love with her even though he met her one time and then instantly became obsessed with her, even though their interaction was very dry. One of the most absurd scenes is when Mardonna gets angrily yelled at by a frustrated character for an entire paragraph, and then she talks for like a second and then he randomly decides he’s obsessed with her too. The book clearly tries to convince you she has a magical charm to her but has nothing to show for it, it comes off as cheap.
Not only is the two main peoples’ character and relationship uninteresting, but the cult element is just not as entertaining as you’d think it would be. I’m a big fan of cult stories, but this felt very empty and uninspired.
Venus in Furs gave you an Intresting insight of a perverse man’s psyche while also making you wonder where the line is drawn between fetishism and abuse, and wether the harm Severin is put under is his fault of Wanda’s.
The Godmother gives you an insight onto why this text has not been translated since the 1800s
July 17, 2025
Ich habe mich gelangweilt.
Wenn man ein Buch von Leopold von Sacher-Masoch wählt, das eine Frau-Mann-Konstellation schildert, erhofft man sich eine SM-Geschichte. Immerhin wurde der ganze Sado-Masochismus nach ihm getauft. Für dieses Buch ist das eher so, als würde man zu „Carmen“ greifen, weil das eine SM-Geschichte ist. Jedenfalls rate ich allen ab, die vom Wunsch nach einem erotischen SM-Text geleitet werden.
Gut, irgendwie ist es schon so was. Vor allem, da das entsprechende Bild etwa drei bis vier oder gar fünf Mal wiederholt wird, kann man sich Sacher-Masochs persönlichen Fetisch gut vorstellen: Die schöne Frau ruht entspannt in einem Stuhl oder Sessel, ist schon halb entkleidet, hat aber, unverzichtbar, einen Pelz an, Pelzjacke oder Pelzmantel. Der ihr ergebene Mann sinkt vor ihr nieder, streift ihr Schuhe und Strümpfe ab und versichert ihr, er bete sie an, er wäre ihr Diener, er hätte gefehlt, er bitte um eine Strafe.
Das war's dann auch schon. Mehr steht eigentlich nie drin. Bis auf dem Schluss. (Siehe weiter unten.)
Ich kann mir Leute vorstellen, die, uneingeweiht, so ein Werk lesen und nicht einmal merken, dass es erotisch sein will oder gar sadomasochistisch.
Der österreichische Adlige tut, was er in diversen anderen Büchern auch getan hat. Er, der sich in der äußersten Nord-Ost-Ecke des Vielvölkerstaats gut auskennt, verwurstet diese Spezialkenntnisse für ein Stück ethnografischer Exotik. (In jenen Jahren zogen reisende Völkerschauen durch Europa, in denen man echte Indianer, Neger und Orientalen bestaunen konnte.) Es geht um einfache, um primitive Leute, Bauern in gottverlassenen Dörfern. Es sind sogenannte Kleinrussen, seinerzeit auch Ruthenen genannt. Mittlerweile würden wir sie Ukrainer nennen und gegenwärtig wohnen sie auch in einen Land namens Ukraine, nachdem sie zuvor einige Jahrzehnte zur Sowjetunion gehört hatten. Wer ernstlich ein Buch mit ständigen Verweisen auf die Trachten, die Lieder, die Volkstänze, die Sitten und Gebräuche dieser Menschen im späten 19. Jahrhundert lesen will, der ist hier viel besser aufgehoben als der moderne SM-Fan.
Es ist nicht leicht, an dieser Erzählung dran zu bleiben, denn Sacher-Masoch führt schnell hintereinander fünf bis zehn Figuren ein, die einem zuerst noch wie volkstümliches Beiwerk erscheinen, später aber sollen wir jeden bei seinen Namen erkennen. Es ist eine seltsame Verwischtheit im Buch. Irgendwelche dieser Figuren besuchen einander in dem einen oder anderen Dorf, sagen zwei, drei Absätze wörtliche Rede und stürmen wieder davon, woraufhin wir uns im nächsten Dorf bei dieser oder jener anderen Figur befinden, wo bald einer von den gerade eben Vorgekommenen hereinschneit, noch mal drei Sätze äußert, um alsbald weiter oder an seine Arbeit zu gehen.
Es sind Bauern, auch die Gottesmutter, Mardona, die eine Gottesmutter ist, weil sie eine Sekte um sich geschart hat, der gegenüber sie sich als aktuelle Fleischwerdung Gottes zu erkennen gegeben hat. Die Obrigkeit, die aber meistens weit weg und außerdem bestechlich ist, mag das nicht. Wir sehen die Gottesmutter mit den Augen Sabadils, eines unverheirateten Bauern, der sie bis jetzt nicht kannte, sich auf den ersten Blick in sie verliebt. Ein weiteres sperriges Element der Geschichte liegt darin, dass der Erzähler sowohl diese göttliche Mardona wie den naiven Sabadil bisweilen als „Helden der Geschichte“, als wenigstens so exemplarisch und tragisch wie Carmen, Escamillo und Don José behandelt, dann auch wieder nur als Bauerntrampel, ungebildet, triebgesteuert, hinterwäldlerisch.
Zwischendurch wird uns beigebracht, dass die Gottesmutter über die Macht verfügt, das ganze Dorf gegen eine betrügerische Ehefrau zu hetzen, die ausgezogen und durch Spießruten gejagt, bzw. gesteinigt wird. Was sie gnädig aber einstellt, bevor ernsthafte Verletzungen auftreten. Es fällt ihr nicht schwer, Sabadil zum Geständnis seiner Liebe zu bewegen und sich anschließend von ihm allerlei Liebesgaben bringen zu lassen. Allerdings scheint sie ihn so richtig noch nicht ran zu lassen, sondern peinigt ihn lieber mit einer kleinen Lesbennummer (ebenfalls nur angedeutet), zu der sie ein ganz junges Mädchen holt, das ihm offenbar gut gefällt.
Die großen Schicksalsschläge kommen ins Rollen, als eine andere Frau, älter, hässlicher, dümmer, Mardona als Betrügerin bezeichnet und versucht, sich selbst zur neuen Gottesmutter aufzuschwingen. Dafür werden allerlei Juden und Dorf-Feiglinge, auf Seiten der Männer, und auf weiblicher Seite die bestrafte Sünderin, die kleine Schönheit und ein durchtriebenes Weib, dem es gelungen war, Sabadil das zu geben, was Mardona bis jetzt nur versprochen hat, in die Verschwörung hinein genommen und auf Sabadil angesetzt. Man könnte von einem Pussy War sprechen. Wer das mag, kann ja mal reinlesen.
Allerdings sind gut über 100 Seiten vorbei und bis jetzt war es nur wirr, altbacken und langweilig, angefüllt mit etwas gönnerhafter Volksverbundenheit. Auch Leopold von Sacher-Masoch scheint das gespürt zu haben. Also macht er aus Sabadil die Jesusgestalt, die für ihren Gott zu sterben willig ist. Die Gottesmutter entdeckt den kommenden Aufstand noch rechtzeitig und muss ihn drakonisch abstoppen. Vor allem werden die Frauen und Sabadil gezwungen, öffentlich zu gestehen, dass sie ihr sexuell untreu gewesen sind. (Kann man jemand untreu sein, dessen nackte Füße man nur küssen durfte, wenn sie einen Pelz trug?) Dann werden die Nebenfiguren ganz ähnlich gequält, gerettet und in neu bestärkte Gefolgsleute verwandelt wie die Sünderin vom Anfang. Wer das oben angekündigte Ende hier noch nicht erfahren will, lässt den Spoiler geschlossen:
Ach so, wie es aussieht, habe ich einen Masochistenroman gelesen.
Wenn man ein Buch von Leopold von Sacher-Masoch wählt, das eine Frau-Mann-Konstellation schildert, erhofft man sich eine SM-Geschichte. Immerhin wurde der ganze Sado-Masochismus nach ihm getauft. Für dieses Buch ist das eher so, als würde man zu „Carmen“ greifen, weil das eine SM-Geschichte ist. Jedenfalls rate ich allen ab, die vom Wunsch nach einem erotischen SM-Text geleitet werden.
Gut, irgendwie ist es schon so was. Vor allem, da das entsprechende Bild etwa drei bis vier oder gar fünf Mal wiederholt wird, kann man sich Sacher-Masochs persönlichen Fetisch gut vorstellen: Die schöne Frau ruht entspannt in einem Stuhl oder Sessel, ist schon halb entkleidet, hat aber, unverzichtbar, einen Pelz an, Pelzjacke oder Pelzmantel. Der ihr ergebene Mann sinkt vor ihr nieder, streift ihr Schuhe und Strümpfe ab und versichert ihr, er bete sie an, er wäre ihr Diener, er hätte gefehlt, er bitte um eine Strafe.
Das war's dann auch schon. Mehr steht eigentlich nie drin. Bis auf dem Schluss. (Siehe weiter unten.)
Ich kann mir Leute vorstellen, die, uneingeweiht, so ein Werk lesen und nicht einmal merken, dass es erotisch sein will oder gar sadomasochistisch.
Der österreichische Adlige tut, was er in diversen anderen Büchern auch getan hat. Er, der sich in der äußersten Nord-Ost-Ecke des Vielvölkerstaats gut auskennt, verwurstet diese Spezialkenntnisse für ein Stück ethnografischer Exotik. (In jenen Jahren zogen reisende Völkerschauen durch Europa, in denen man echte Indianer, Neger und Orientalen bestaunen konnte.) Es geht um einfache, um primitive Leute, Bauern in gottverlassenen Dörfern. Es sind sogenannte Kleinrussen, seinerzeit auch Ruthenen genannt. Mittlerweile würden wir sie Ukrainer nennen und gegenwärtig wohnen sie auch in einen Land namens Ukraine, nachdem sie zuvor einige Jahrzehnte zur Sowjetunion gehört hatten. Wer ernstlich ein Buch mit ständigen Verweisen auf die Trachten, die Lieder, die Volkstänze, die Sitten und Gebräuche dieser Menschen im späten 19. Jahrhundert lesen will, der ist hier viel besser aufgehoben als der moderne SM-Fan.
Es ist nicht leicht, an dieser Erzählung dran zu bleiben, denn Sacher-Masoch führt schnell hintereinander fünf bis zehn Figuren ein, die einem zuerst noch wie volkstümliches Beiwerk erscheinen, später aber sollen wir jeden bei seinen Namen erkennen. Es ist eine seltsame Verwischtheit im Buch. Irgendwelche dieser Figuren besuchen einander in dem einen oder anderen Dorf, sagen zwei, drei Absätze wörtliche Rede und stürmen wieder davon, woraufhin wir uns im nächsten Dorf bei dieser oder jener anderen Figur befinden, wo bald einer von den gerade eben Vorgekommenen hereinschneit, noch mal drei Sätze äußert, um alsbald weiter oder an seine Arbeit zu gehen.
Es sind Bauern, auch die Gottesmutter, Mardona, die eine Gottesmutter ist, weil sie eine Sekte um sich geschart hat, der gegenüber sie sich als aktuelle Fleischwerdung Gottes zu erkennen gegeben hat. Die Obrigkeit, die aber meistens weit weg und außerdem bestechlich ist, mag das nicht. Wir sehen die Gottesmutter mit den Augen Sabadils, eines unverheirateten Bauern, der sie bis jetzt nicht kannte, sich auf den ersten Blick in sie verliebt. Ein weiteres sperriges Element der Geschichte liegt darin, dass der Erzähler sowohl diese göttliche Mardona wie den naiven Sabadil bisweilen als „Helden der Geschichte“, als wenigstens so exemplarisch und tragisch wie Carmen, Escamillo und Don José behandelt, dann auch wieder nur als Bauerntrampel, ungebildet, triebgesteuert, hinterwäldlerisch.
Zwischendurch wird uns beigebracht, dass die Gottesmutter über die Macht verfügt, das ganze Dorf gegen eine betrügerische Ehefrau zu hetzen, die ausgezogen und durch Spießruten gejagt, bzw. gesteinigt wird. Was sie gnädig aber einstellt, bevor ernsthafte Verletzungen auftreten. Es fällt ihr nicht schwer, Sabadil zum Geständnis seiner Liebe zu bewegen und sich anschließend von ihm allerlei Liebesgaben bringen zu lassen. Allerdings scheint sie ihn so richtig noch nicht ran zu lassen, sondern peinigt ihn lieber mit einer kleinen Lesbennummer (ebenfalls nur angedeutet), zu der sie ein ganz junges Mädchen holt, das ihm offenbar gut gefällt.
Die großen Schicksalsschläge kommen ins Rollen, als eine andere Frau, älter, hässlicher, dümmer, Mardona als Betrügerin bezeichnet und versucht, sich selbst zur neuen Gottesmutter aufzuschwingen. Dafür werden allerlei Juden und Dorf-Feiglinge, auf Seiten der Männer, und auf weiblicher Seite die bestrafte Sünderin, die kleine Schönheit und ein durchtriebenes Weib, dem es gelungen war, Sabadil das zu geben, was Mardona bis jetzt nur versprochen hat, in die Verschwörung hinein genommen und auf Sabadil angesetzt. Man könnte von einem Pussy War sprechen. Wer das mag, kann ja mal reinlesen.
Allerdings sind gut über 100 Seiten vorbei und bis jetzt war es nur wirr, altbacken und langweilig, angefüllt mit etwas gönnerhafter Volksverbundenheit. Auch Leopold von Sacher-Masoch scheint das gespürt zu haben. Also macht er aus Sabadil die Jesusgestalt, die für ihren Gott zu sterben willig ist. Die Gottesmutter entdeckt den kommenden Aufstand noch rechtzeitig und muss ihn drakonisch abstoppen. Vor allem werden die Frauen und Sabadil gezwungen, öffentlich zu gestehen, dass sie ihr sexuell untreu gewesen sind. (Kann man jemand untreu sein, dessen nackte Füße man nur küssen durfte, wenn sie einen Pelz trug?) Dann werden die Nebenfiguren ganz ähnlich gequält, gerettet und in neu bestärkte Gefolgsleute verwandelt wie die Sünderin vom Anfang. Wer das oben angekündigte Ende hier noch nicht erfahren will, lässt den Spoiler geschlossen:
Ach so, wie es aussieht, habe ich einen Masochistenroman gelesen.
February 17, 2025
"-No te robaré nada -dijo ella, mirándolo con sus enormes ojos azules, como encandilando el interior de su alma-. Me entregarás todo sin que te lo pida."
Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch - La Madre De Dios
Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch - La Madre De Dios
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2016
Lo primero y más interesante: gracias a la biografía introductoria en el prólogo descubrí que el autor de la palabra masoquista. Después leyendo se ve bien la actitud sumisa de los personajes hombre a las mujeres, una sumisión que llega al sufrimiento y a la casi esclavitud voluntaria.
En La Madre de Dios, se ve una crítica a algunas de las sectas que existían en la época. Sectas con una visión que llegó a compartir pero que van al extremo y al abuso de sus súbditos. En una sátira de la sociedad de la época Masoch logra burlarse de sus contemporáneos en una historia cuyo final lo deja a uno desconcertado.
En La Madre de Dios, se ve una crítica a algunas de las sectas que existían en la época. Sectas con una visión que llegó a compartir pero que van al extremo y al abuso de sus súbditos. En una sátira de la sociedad de la época Masoch logra burlarse de sus contemporáneos en una historia cuyo final lo deja a uno desconcertado.
March 17, 2013
It reminded me of the Romanian popular fairy tales, but it's actually very typical for the Eastern Europe!
Such a powerful female character; but in the same time quite cruel and Machiavellian. She's the "Mother of God" because a women committed the original sin and therefore only a women can save the people from it!
Such a powerful female character; but in the same time quite cruel and Machiavellian. She's the "Mother of God" because a women committed the original sin and therefore only a women can save the people from it!
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