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Juliette #V-VI
Juliette
“An amazing sequence of imaginatively bizarre sexual adventures punctuated by philosophical and theological digression. Mlle. De Maupin, Lolita, Candy—all pale beside Juliette.”—Library Journal
1216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1797
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7287 people want to read
About the author
Marquis de Sade
622 books2,272 followersA preoccupation with sexual violence characterizes novels, plays, and short stories that Donatien Alphonse François, comte de Sade but known as marquis de Sade, of France wrote. After this writer derives the word sadism, the deriving of sexual gratification from fantasies or acts that involve causing other persons to suffer physical or mental pain.
This aristocrat, revolutionary politician, and philosopher exhibited famous libertine lifestyle.
His works include dialogues and political tracts; in his lifetime, he published some works under his own name and denied authorship of apparently anonymous other works. His best erotic works combined philosophical discourse with pornography and depicted fantasies with an emphasis on criminality and blasphemy against the Catholic Church. Morality, religion or law restrained not his "extreme freedom." Various prisons and an insane asylum incarcerated the aristocrat for 32 years of his life: ten years in the Bastile, another year elsewhere in Paris, a month in Conciergerie, two years in a fortress, a year in Madelonnettes, three years in Bicêtre, a year in Sainte-Pélagie, and 13 years in the Charenton asylum. During the French revolution, people elected this criminal as delegate to the National Convention. He wrote many of his works in prison.
This aristocrat, revolutionary politician, and philosopher exhibited famous libertine lifestyle.
His works include dialogues and political tracts; in his lifetime, he published some works under his own name and denied authorship of apparently anonymous other works. His best erotic works combined philosophical discourse with pornography and depicted fantasies with an emphasis on criminality and blasphemy against the Catholic Church. Morality, religion or law restrained not his "extreme freedom." Various prisons and an insane asylum incarcerated the aristocrat for 32 years of his life: ten years in the Bastile, another year elsewhere in Paris, a month in Conciergerie, two years in a fortress, a year in Madelonnettes, three years in Bicêtre, a year in Sainte-Pélagie, and 13 years in the Charenton asylum. During the French revolution, people elected this criminal as delegate to the National Convention. He wrote many of his works in prison.
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August 23, 2007
I bought this book when I worked at Barnes & Noble and because when I was reshelving the book (found in the men's bathroom...vomit) I flipped it open to a scene where nuns were introducing a 12 inch dildo to the virgin Juliette's vagina. I thought that was interesting enough to make me buy the book.
Yes, I know De Sade was purposefully pushing the limits. yes, I know that De Sade was allegedly NOT insane (or was he? who else thinks about setting pubic hair on fire for fun or making a man fuck his daughter in front of the mother, or throwing your newborn baby into a fire for sexual pleasure). My question is.......you know what? There are no questions I have about this book that I want to know the answers to.
Although, if you can segregate some scenes from the rest of the book and put sticky notes on those pages...you can have great material for masturbation. Not that I would know. I've been told this by unnamed third parties.
Moral of the story: blind allegiance to sexual satisfaction only can lead to exponentially increasing perversion.
Yes, I know De Sade was purposefully pushing the limits. yes, I know that De Sade was allegedly NOT insane (or was he? who else thinks about setting pubic hair on fire for fun or making a man fuck his daughter in front of the mother, or throwing your newborn baby into a fire for sexual pleasure). My question is.......you know what? There are no questions I have about this book that I want to know the answers to.
Although, if you can segregate some scenes from the rest of the book and put sticky notes on those pages...you can have great material for masturbation. Not that I would know. I've been told this by unnamed third parties.
Moral of the story: blind allegiance to sexual satisfaction only can lead to exponentially increasing perversion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2023
اگر "ساد" یک دین باشد، "ژولیت" کتاب مقدس آن است.
چرا بخوانید:
کتاب "ژولیت" یا "مواهب رذیلت" ادامه ای بر کتاب "ژوستین" یا "مصائب فضیلت" است که در آن سرنوشت خواهر بزرگترِ ژوستین، ژولیت، را می خوانیم. (قبلا برای آن کتاب ریویوو نوشتم.)
همانطور که از عنوان کتاب پیداست، در این رمان بسیار طولانی، حدود ۱۲۰۰ صفحه، میبینیم که چطور قرار گرفتن در مسیر رذیلت، فحشا و جنایت میتواند زندگی خوش و سرشار از رفاه را به همراه داشته باشد (برعکس رمان قبل که در آن دیدیم چطور اصرار بر فضیلت و پارسایی موجب بدبختی، فقر و سواستفاده از خواهر کوچکتر بود و سرانجام به مرگ دردناک او منتهی شد). این کتاب از جلد یکم مجموعه کمتر مشهور و کمتر خوانده شده تر می باشد و حتی علیرغم اینکه نسبت به دیگر کتاب ساد یعنی ۱۲۰ روز سدوم ایرادات ادبی کمتر داشته و خام دستی آن را ندارد، اما نسبت به آن ناشناخته تر است. با اینحال طبق نظر ساد شناسان کتاب "ژولیت" جامع ترین مرجع فلسفه و اندیشه و قله نظام اعتقادی مارکی دوساد می باشد.
بزرگتزین ارزش کار ساد در این رمان این است که او دیدگاه های رایج در مورد مرجعیت زمان خود را که اتفاقاً کلیسای کاتولیک بود، و طبقه اشراف را به تندی به نقد کشید، موضوعی که امروز هم قابل بحث است و آن را می توان به سایر مراجع قدرت مذهبی و سیاسی جهان نیز تعمیم داد. همچنین فراموش نکنید که او بنیانگذار "سادیسم" است.
چگونه بخوانید:
مانند سایر آثار ساد، این رمان در نگاه اول و برای کسی که او را نمی شناسد و با فلسفه اش آشنایی حداقلی هم ندارد، یک کتاب پرنوگرافی و غیراخلاقی است که در آن به شدت صحنه هایی از قتل، سلاخی، سکس، گروپ سکس، گنگ بنگ، نکروفیلیا، سویینگرز پارتی، پدوفیلیا، ترویلیسم، و خلاصه انواع بی دی اس ام که ممکن است به ذهن خطور کند گنجانده شده. تکرار و فراوانی این موارد می تواند پیش از آنکه تحریک آمیز بوده و خواننده را برانگیزاند، باعث تهوع، کسالت و دلزدگی شود (بنابراین به هیچ عنوان پیشنهاد نمی شود که با هدف خواندن یک رمان پورنو به سراغ این کتاب بروید)؛ اما اگر کسی با نیت آشنایی و دنبال کردن فلسفه خاص و آزادی خواهانه ساد از این توصیفات عبور کند، می تواند این دو محتوا را به نوعی تکمیل کننده مفهوم رمان بداند و از آن لذت ببرد و شناخت کسب کند.
چه کسی بخواند یا نخواند:
مارکی دوساد بسیار کمتر از آنچه شایعات می گویند منحرف و بسیار بیشتر از آنچه مردم فکر می کنند فیلسوف بود. با خواندن زندگی نامه مارکی می توان مطمعن بود که او از بسیاری از انحرافات و خشونت های جنسی که در کتاب هایش توصیف کرده به دور بوده اما اندیشه های آزادی خواهانه پیشرو و سبک انتقادی تند و تیزی داشته است.
با تمام این تفاسیر، توصیه من این است که اگر تاکنون چیزی از ساد نخوانده اید و یا با توصیفات اروتیک، خشونت، فانتزی های کثیف و مطالب ضد مذهب در یک رمان مشکل دارید، و قلب و اعصابتان ضعیف است به سراغ این کتاب نیایید.
چرا بخوانید:
کتاب "ژولیت" یا "مواهب رذیلت" ادامه ای بر کتاب "ژوستین" یا "مصائب فضیلت" است که در آن سرنوشت خواهر بزرگترِ ژوستین، ژولیت، را می خوانیم. (قبلا برای آن کتاب ریویوو نوشتم.)
همانطور که از عنوان کتاب پیداست، در این رمان بسیار طولانی، حدود ۱۲۰۰ صفحه، میبینیم که چطور قرار گرفتن در مسیر رذیلت، فحشا و جنایت میتواند زندگی خوش و سرشار از رفاه را به همراه داشته باشد (برعکس رمان قبل که در آن دیدیم چطور اصرار بر فضیلت و پارسایی موجب بدبختی، فقر و سواستفاده از خواهر کوچکتر بود و سرانجام به مرگ دردناک او منتهی شد). این کتاب از جلد یکم مجموعه کمتر مشهور و کمتر خوانده شده تر می باشد و حتی علیرغم اینکه نسبت به دیگر کتاب ساد یعنی ۱۲۰ روز سدوم ایرادات ادبی کمتر داشته و خام دستی آن را ندارد، اما نسبت به آن ناشناخته تر است. با اینحال طبق نظر ساد شناسان کتاب "ژولیت" جامع ترین مرجع فلسفه و اندیشه و قله نظام اعتقادی مارکی دوساد می باشد.
بزرگتزین ارزش کار ساد در این رمان این است که او دیدگاه های رایج در مورد مرجعیت زمان خود را که اتفاقاً کلیسای کاتولیک بود، و طبقه اشراف را به تندی به نقد کشید، موضوعی که امروز هم قابل بحث است و آن را می توان به سایر مراجع قدرت مذهبی و سیاسی جهان نیز تعمیم داد. همچنین فراموش نکنید که او بنیانگذار "سادیسم" است.
چگونه بخوانید:
مانند سایر آثار ساد، این رمان در نگاه اول و برای کسی که او را نمی شناسد و با فلسفه اش آشنایی حداقلی هم ندارد، یک کتاب پرنوگرافی و غیراخلاقی است که در آن به شدت صحنه هایی از قتل، سلاخی، سکس، گروپ سکس، گنگ بنگ، نکروفیلیا، سویینگرز پارتی، پدوفیلیا، ترویلیسم، و خلاصه انواع بی دی اس ام که ممکن است به ذهن خطور کند گنجانده شده. تکرار و فراوانی این موارد می تواند پیش از آنکه تحریک آمیز بوده و خواننده را برانگیزاند، باعث تهوع، کسالت و دلزدگی شود (بنابراین به هیچ عنوان پیشنهاد نمی شود که با هدف خواندن یک رمان پورنو به سراغ این کتاب بروید)؛ اما اگر کسی با نیت آشنایی و دنبال کردن فلسفه خاص و آزادی خواهانه ساد از این توصیفات عبور کند، می تواند این دو محتوا را به نوعی تکمیل کننده مفهوم رمان بداند و از آن لذت ببرد و شناخت کسب کند.
چه کسی بخواند یا نخواند:
مارکی دوساد بسیار کمتر از آنچه شایعات می گویند منحرف و بسیار بیشتر از آنچه مردم فکر می کنند فیلسوف بود. با خواندن زندگی نامه مارکی می توان مطمعن بود که او از بسیاری از انحرافات و خشونت های جنسی که در کتاب هایش توصیف کرده به دور بوده اما اندیشه های آزادی خواهانه پیشرو و سبک انتقادی تند و تیزی داشته است.
با تمام این تفاسیر، توصیه من این است که اگر تاکنون چیزی از ساد نخوانده اید و یا با توصیفات اروتیک، خشونت، فانتزی های کثیف و مطالب ضد مذهب در یک رمان مشکل دارید، و قلب و اعصابتان ضعیف است به سراغ این کتاب نیایید.
June 16, 2021
Julliette, de Sade
The Fortunes of Vice
When I was a young man consumed by curiosity, I came across a wretch known as de Sade. His extensive writings were radically immoral, and later endorsed by the left wing French philosophers Bataille and Foucault. He created a nausea hard to ignore. His descriptions of rape and child abuse haunt me until this day.
Certainly de Sade included popes and politicians within his broad denunciation of human worth. A misogynist, creature of kingdom and empire, unremorseful and disenfranchised, he considered it his birthright to abuse everyone he was able. He holds keys to understanding a recent rise of popularism, criticized but little understood.
Nobility once subjected those under their control. Not much has changed though centuries passed. Now power comes from a bank account, not only from the barrel of a gun. When wealth was seized and criminals imprisoned in the Bastille justice was served. A new Napoleon may rise from the ranks to save us from them.
The Fortunes of Vice
When I was a young man consumed by curiosity, I came across a wretch known as de Sade. His extensive writings were radically immoral, and later endorsed by the left wing French philosophers Bataille and Foucault. He created a nausea hard to ignore. His descriptions of rape and child abuse haunt me until this day.
Certainly de Sade included popes and politicians within his broad denunciation of human worth. A misogynist, creature of kingdom and empire, unremorseful and disenfranchised, he considered it his birthright to abuse everyone he was able. He holds keys to understanding a recent rise of popularism, criticized but little understood.
Nobility once subjected those under their control. Not much has changed though centuries passed. Now power comes from a bank account, not only from the barrel of a gun. When wealth was seized and criminals imprisoned in the Bastille justice was served. A new Napoleon may rise from the ranks to save us from them.
July 12, 2020
I read about half of Juliette about 20 years ago. It's a long, repetitive book so please forgive me for abandoning it! Can I give four stars to a book that I abandoned? Four stars for a book that I've described as repetitive? Yes, I can...it's flawed but astonishing.
Although I'm sure that there are people somewhere who would consider de Sade a lightweight, I'm also sure that 99.99% of the population would consider it pretty intense. For example I remember getting to the point where de Sade had concocted a scene where there was a row of women with babies on their shoulders, the children were then stabbed and the blood ran down the women's backs who defecated at this point so that a row of kneeling men ate the blood/faeces mixture. Knowing de Sade the men were probably masturbating and/or being sodomised at the same time - 'Good Grief!!!' I remember getting to this point of the book feeling desensitised and numb and decided to stop.
It's the unrelenting monotony of de Sade's sexual visions and scenarios that had me in the end. They should be described as foul and depraved rather than as erotic as they focus so much on shit, piss, blood and vomit and the sex isn't kinky, it's extreme and painfully violent. I think I felt sick most of the time rather than aroused. Though if you're into pain and body fluids you'll probably find it titillating.
Between the sexual perversions, when the libertines are relaxing and eating, there are usually passages in which the characters voice de Sade's political and philosophical views. These actually became more interesting than the monotonous sexual acts and de Sade comes across as a forerunner to Nietzsche - opposed to religion and in favour of man taking control of his own destiny.
Everyone should read some Sade at some point as it's truly astonishing to read. You just need to remember that it is fiction, it is the product of a person's mind and not an historical record. This did not actually happen! After all people read murder-mysteries and crime thrillers but do not condone the criminal acts that are described. Presumably they realise that it's just a story.
The Marquis is a very interesting historical figure and about the same time as I read Juliette I also read a biography by Maurice Lever which is thoroughly recommended.
Although I'm sure that there are people somewhere who would consider de Sade a lightweight, I'm also sure that 99.99% of the population would consider it pretty intense. For example I remember getting to the point where de Sade had concocted a scene where there was a row of women with babies on their shoulders, the children were then stabbed and the blood ran down the women's backs who defecated at this point so that a row of kneeling men ate the blood/faeces mixture. Knowing de Sade the men were probably masturbating and/or being sodomised at the same time - 'Good Grief!!!' I remember getting to this point of the book feeling desensitised and numb and decided to stop.
It's the unrelenting monotony of de Sade's sexual visions and scenarios that had me in the end. They should be described as foul and depraved rather than as erotic as they focus so much on shit, piss, blood and vomit and the sex isn't kinky, it's extreme and painfully violent. I think I felt sick most of the time rather than aroused. Though if you're into pain and body fluids you'll probably find it titillating.
Between the sexual perversions, when the libertines are relaxing and eating, there are usually passages in which the characters voice de Sade's political and philosophical views. These actually became more interesting than the monotonous sexual acts and de Sade comes across as a forerunner to Nietzsche - opposed to religion and in favour of man taking control of his own destiny.
Everyone should read some Sade at some point as it's truly astonishing to read. You just need to remember that it is fiction, it is the product of a person's mind and not an historical record. This did not actually happen! After all people read murder-mysteries and crime thrillers but do not condone the criminal acts that are described. Presumably they realise that it's just a story.
The Marquis is a very interesting historical figure and about the same time as I read Juliette I also read a biography by Maurice Lever which is thoroughly recommended.
May 29, 2015
Juliette is to Justine what Ada is to Lolita: there are shades of the greater, less widely read novel in the lesser but more culturally known work. I can't say it much better than another reviewer more famous than me. If Sade is a religion, this is its bible. (And if you liked Justine, you may be sorry to hear she has a cameo in Juliette.)
Sade the philosopher is in force, and his treatises - like his other novels delivered by key characters - are interspersed with the sex and violence one expects. And yet...is it Sade who speaks through his canon's most libertine characters, or is he an ironist an order of magnitude more accomplished than Swift? I recommend a brief familiarity with his biography and political beliefs, and probably reading his Philosophy in the Bedroom, before reading Juliette. When a reader falls in stride with Sade, and any prudish shock wears off, it becomes easier to discern what's true to his idealistic vision of humanity, what's buffoonery, and what are prescient satirical riffs and exposés of the cultural idiosyncrasies he endured in eighteenth-century France. Otherwise Sade can appear to be a mass of contradictions. He respects the state and the institution of democracy yet rejects law. His characters expound on their superiority over other living things yet he writes brilliantly on the equality of animals and humans. And so on.
In any case Juliette is a masterpiece of fiction with many concurrent undertones. Juliette is a feminist far before her time, a heroine and anti-heroine, a victim-turned-predator who rejects conventional sex roles and relationships (and perhaps one of literature's first unrepentant bisexuals). There will always be a question of whether Sade is pornographic, but there can never be a question of his value to literature.
Sade the philosopher is in force, and his treatises - like his other novels delivered by key characters - are interspersed with the sex and violence one expects. And yet...is it Sade who speaks through his canon's most libertine characters, or is he an ironist an order of magnitude more accomplished than Swift? I recommend a brief familiarity with his biography and political beliefs, and probably reading his Philosophy in the Bedroom, before reading Juliette. When a reader falls in stride with Sade, and any prudish shock wears off, it becomes easier to discern what's true to his idealistic vision of humanity, what's buffoonery, and what are prescient satirical riffs and exposés of the cultural idiosyncrasies he endured in eighteenth-century France. Otherwise Sade can appear to be a mass of contradictions. He respects the state and the institution of democracy yet rejects law. His characters expound on their superiority over other living things yet he writes brilliantly on the equality of animals and humans. And so on.
In any case Juliette is a masterpiece of fiction with many concurrent undertones. Juliette is a feminist far before her time, a heroine and anti-heroine, a victim-turned-predator who rejects conventional sex roles and relationships (and perhaps one of literature's first unrepentant bisexuals). There will always be a question of whether Sade is pornographic, but there can never be a question of his value to literature.
March 20, 2009
De Sade's immense novel of explicit debauchery. Just started it and already it's pretty sensational stuff. Lesbian nuns and dildos and cunt sucking and ass licking and spraying orgasmic juices all described just like that. Remember, this thing was written hundreds of years ago. Freewheeling, unapologetic hedonism. This is a massive 6-part novel; it's going to take a good long while to read this. The companion novel is the better-known, "Justine."
You may not like the words I've used in this review, but I'm just trying to give you a quick and dirty peek into what is actually said in the book and the words used to say them.
You may not like the words I've used in this review, but I'm just trying to give you a quick and dirty peek into what is actually said in the book and the words used to say them.
February 12, 2010
Even though I am only almost through with Juliette, I feel as though I have managed to grasp the essence of the book already and can, therefore, give my thoughts on it. This is the Sadeian novel at its most perfected. It is the Don Quixote of Sade's novels, in other words.
Now, with that stated, I would like to address some complaints I've seen other members mention in regards to this book.
Is it boring? Well, it wasn't to me. Sade has never bored me. Some readers might, of course be bored to tears by this huge novel but I don't think that a book (particularly Sade's novels) is by nature boring. It all depends on whether or not the reader found the subject matter and general tone of the novel interesting. Therefore, it is the reader who makes a text 'boring' not the text alone. And I, as a reader, did not find any of this book's contents to be boring.
Is it repetitive? Sade's texts by their very nature are repetitive. Most of the scenes follow a particular schematic: discourse, orgy, discourse, orgy, etc. Now, whereas many readers might suggest that each discourse is merely a repetition of the others, I found each discourse to build upon the last in much the same way that the orgies do. The orgies and discourses go a step further each time until, finally, all hell breaks loose and the discourse becomes loftier in order to justify more grotesque horrors.
Is it "disgusting, depraved, or evil"? I won't respond to this claim because whoever comes to this conclusion is either, first of all, acting shocked in order to make themselves appear more innocent or, second of all, reading a copy that doesn't mention the author's name or any summary of the text on the cover because, after all, people expecting light-hearted romantic romps don't pick up books by Sade.
Now, since I'm not qualified to go into a literary criticism of this work, I would suggest reading "Sade: A Sudden Abyss" (covers the entirety of Sade's works) and "Writing the Orgy: Power and Parody in Sade" (covers Juliette exclusively).
An absolutely stunning work. Maybe I'm weird but I was very satisfied with its tremendous length and, even after 1200 pages, was sad to see it end.
Now, with that stated, I would like to address some complaints I've seen other members mention in regards to this book.
Is it boring? Well, it wasn't to me. Sade has never bored me. Some readers might, of course be bored to tears by this huge novel but I don't think that a book (particularly Sade's novels) is by nature boring. It all depends on whether or not the reader found the subject matter and general tone of the novel interesting. Therefore, it is the reader who makes a text 'boring' not the text alone. And I, as a reader, did not find any of this book's contents to be boring.
Is it repetitive? Sade's texts by their very nature are repetitive. Most of the scenes follow a particular schematic: discourse, orgy, discourse, orgy, etc. Now, whereas many readers might suggest that each discourse is merely a repetition of the others, I found each discourse to build upon the last in much the same way that the orgies do. The orgies and discourses go a step further each time until, finally, all hell breaks loose and the discourse becomes loftier in order to justify more grotesque horrors.
Is it "disgusting, depraved, or evil"? I won't respond to this claim because whoever comes to this conclusion is either, first of all, acting shocked in order to make themselves appear more innocent or, second of all, reading a copy that doesn't mention the author's name or any summary of the text on the cover because, after all, people expecting light-hearted romantic romps don't pick up books by Sade.
Now, since I'm not qualified to go into a literary criticism of this work, I would suggest reading "Sade: A Sudden Abyss" (covers the entirety of Sade's works) and "Writing the Orgy: Power and Parody in Sade" (covers Juliette exclusively).
An absolutely stunning work. Maybe I'm weird but I was very satisfied with its tremendous length and, even after 1200 pages, was sad to see it end.
March 29, 2013
Sex! Sex! Sex! Orgies! Rape! Sodomy! Murder! Death! Adultery! Homosexuality & hate for the Catholic Church written in the most disgustingly beautiful way. I had the pleasure & I do mean PLEASURE of reading this as an adult that can cogitate the meaning de Sade wished to express. This is very heavy, dense literature! Extremely philosophical, & definitely penetrating!
One can't help but appreciate the author's writing or his views on authority which at the time happened to be the Catholic Church, not God! A topic that is still arguable today.
This is a sequel to "Justine", & also three times as long. I would recommend this to an intellectual that can digest the severity of Sade's writing & like it or not the reader has to appreciate the syntax created by Sade! He was a genius of expression, let us not forget "sade" is the origin of "sadist".
One can't help but appreciate the author's writing or his views on authority which at the time happened to be the Catholic Church, not God! A topic that is still arguable today.
This is a sequel to "Justine", & also three times as long. I would recommend this to an intellectual that can digest the severity of Sade's writing & like it or not the reader has to appreciate the syntax created by Sade! He was a genius of expression, let us not forget "sade" is the origin of "sadist".
April 30, 2018
How should this be rated? Interesting question as I knew what to expect (well, largely), and yet....
There is some interesting philosophising, mainly and obviously with religion and politics, but most of this is the product of a mind polluted by circumstance and opportunity.
Read it just so you can tell people you’ve read de Sade and that you’re all grown up now.
There is some interesting philosophising, mainly and obviously with religion and politics, but most of this is the product of a mind polluted by circumstance and opportunity.
Read it just so you can tell people you’ve read de Sade and that you’re all grown up now.
May 13, 2023
4 Stars for Juliette (ebook) by Marquis De Sade.
I find it interesting reading books that have been banned. It appears after doing just a little bit of research that this book had been banned for more than a hundred and fifty years.
This book was first published in France from 1797-1801. I really had a hard time following most of the story. The writing seemed really dense except for the explicit parts. Juliette is the amoral counterpoint to the Marquis book Justine. Justine was virtuous but lead a tragic life and in this book Juliette leads a life of sexual depravity and everything works out for her.
I find it interesting reading books that have been banned. It appears after doing just a little bit of research that this book had been banned for more than a hundred and fifty years.
This book was first published in France from 1797-1801. I really had a hard time following most of the story. The writing seemed really dense except for the explicit parts. Juliette is the amoral counterpoint to the Marquis book Justine. Justine was virtuous but lead a tragic life and in this book Juliette leads a life of sexual depravity and everything works out for her.
December 31, 2012
holy shit. juliette... what a woman... i can't believe i got through all 1200 pages. rambling monologues on the philosophy of the libertine interspersed with some of the most disgusting torture sex imaginable. some brilliant quotes are buried amongst the madness.
April 22, 2019
La novela está narrada por Juliette que nos cuenta su historia desde que tenía doce años que junto con su hermana Justine se encontraban en un colegio de monjas y donde comenzaron sus primeras experiencias eróticas con una amiga, sin embargo, ambas querían explorar más cosas has que un día son descubiertas y la lleva con la madre Dree una mujer joven y hermosa. Quien las inicia en el placer sostienen relaciones entre ellas y comienzan a tener orgia con otras chicas. Vemos la admiración que la madre despierta en Juliette y comenzara a conocer cosas nuevas, así como que el deseo y placer sexual no tiene límites.
La palabra amor es mencionada varias veces a lo largo de la novela y se nos muestra un amor basado en la lujuria, la pasión y el interés personal. Vemos el despertar sexual de Juliette. Hay una crítica a la moral y la virtud cualidades carecen de valor ante el interés personal, pasiones y egoísmo de las personas... se no muestra un mundo gobernado por el libertinaje y de quien sabe cómo manejarlo logra una buena posición y su bienestar se ve garantizado.
Así mismo hay una crítica de como la sociedad prefiere las virtudes y las enaltece en puertas para fuera mientras por dentro reina la corrupción y el libertinaje. Nos habla de la doble moral de la sociedad. El puritísimo.
También nos habla sobre la naturaleza humano. Nuestros instintos como seres reproductores. La naturalidad del deseo sexual sin ataduras morales sino libre. El deseo corrompido y despojado de moralidad. Pero el actuar libre de nuestra sexualidad y deseo no justifica que se cometa un crimen o se someta a alguien en contra de su voluntad, así como manipular la juventud y los deseos del despertar sexual para su propia satisfacción como se nos presenta en esta obra donde se nos muestran a las personas como un objeto de placer para dar y recibir sin importar la forma en que se lleva acabo.
Igualmente, se toca el tema de la existencia de Dios como una figura creada para la opresión y controlar las masas. Se plasma la idea de la naturaleza como creadora de este mundo que nos dota de capacidades y sensaciones para disfrutar y vivirlas. Se nos muestra un par de escenas donde se ve el desprecio que los personajes experimentan por Dios y todo lo que representan.
La historia en términos generales me gusto y sobre todo el final que tuvo Juliette me pareció bien muy acorde al desarrollo que tuvo el personaje. Antes que nada, no es una novela para todos especialmente por el contenido erótico ya que vemos escenas bastante fuertes donde los personajes pueden alcanzar el placer mediante actos deplorables y crueles. Vemos distintos tipos de depravaciones y fetiches desde los normalitos, irrisorios hasta asquerosos y repugnante. Hubo varios fetiches que me produjo mucho asco así que hay que tener mucho estomago para leer este libro.
Al final tenemos una novela que aborda temas como la sexualidad, la naturaleza humana, la existencia de Dios, la influencia religiosa, la moralidad, la corrección, la depravación y el libertinaje entre otras cuestiones. Pero lo que hay que destacar de esta novela son los diálogos y las refecciones de los distintos personajes, donde argumentan y cuestionan a la iglesia y a la sociedad. Y si analizamos bien muchas de las cuestiones que se proponen estas son ciertas, como el hecho de ¿Qué tanto nos limitan las normas religiosas? o ¿Cuánto pueden influir en el pensamiento de las personas?
La palabra amor es mencionada varias veces a lo largo de la novela y se nos muestra un amor basado en la lujuria, la pasión y el interés personal. Vemos el despertar sexual de Juliette. Hay una crítica a la moral y la virtud cualidades carecen de valor ante el interés personal, pasiones y egoísmo de las personas... se no muestra un mundo gobernado por el libertinaje y de quien sabe cómo manejarlo logra una buena posición y su bienestar se ve garantizado.
Así mismo hay una crítica de como la sociedad prefiere las virtudes y las enaltece en puertas para fuera mientras por dentro reina la corrupción y el libertinaje. Nos habla de la doble moral de la sociedad. El puritísimo.
También nos habla sobre la naturaleza humano. Nuestros instintos como seres reproductores. La naturalidad del deseo sexual sin ataduras morales sino libre. El deseo corrompido y despojado de moralidad. Pero el actuar libre de nuestra sexualidad y deseo no justifica que se cometa un crimen o se someta a alguien en contra de su voluntad, así como manipular la juventud y los deseos del despertar sexual para su propia satisfacción como se nos presenta en esta obra donde se nos muestran a las personas como un objeto de placer para dar y recibir sin importar la forma en que se lleva acabo.
Igualmente, se toca el tema de la existencia de Dios como una figura creada para la opresión y controlar las masas. Se plasma la idea de la naturaleza como creadora de este mundo que nos dota de capacidades y sensaciones para disfrutar y vivirlas. Se nos muestra un par de escenas donde se ve el desprecio que los personajes experimentan por Dios y todo lo que representan.
La historia en términos generales me gusto y sobre todo el final que tuvo Juliette me pareció bien muy acorde al desarrollo que tuvo el personaje. Antes que nada, no es una novela para todos especialmente por el contenido erótico ya que vemos escenas bastante fuertes donde los personajes pueden alcanzar el placer mediante actos deplorables y crueles. Vemos distintos tipos de depravaciones y fetiches desde los normalitos, irrisorios hasta asquerosos y repugnante. Hubo varios fetiches que me produjo mucho asco así que hay que tener mucho estomago para leer este libro.
Al final tenemos una novela que aborda temas como la sexualidad, la naturaleza humana, la existencia de Dios, la influencia religiosa, la moralidad, la corrección, la depravación y el libertinaje entre otras cuestiones. Pero lo que hay que destacar de esta novela son los diálogos y las refecciones de los distintos personajes, donde argumentan y cuestionan a la iglesia y a la sociedad. Y si analizamos bien muchas de las cuestiones que se proponen estas son ciertas, como el hecho de ¿Qué tanto nos limitan las normas religiosas? o ¿Cuánto pueden influir en el pensamiento de las personas?
Read
December 30, 2025some brilliant degeneracy we have here ! this oxymoron makes it an extremely difficult book to rate, as it is gruesome in the worst of ways but also incredibly reflective of how true society operates and how innocence isn't always rewarded as it should be. conflicting thoughts are the core of literature and i suppose i should make peace with it.
March 24, 2022
Esta obra narra la vida de una joven huérfana, que desde temprana edad fue ingresada en un colegio religioso para mujeres, en donde encontró los placeres carnales que sus jóvenes compañeras le ofrecían y la vasta experiencia de sus superioras.
Desde el comienzo de la historia nos encontramos con un gran dilema moral, nos han pintado que en la religión todos son puros, no hay pecado, que las bondades de nuestros actos en la tierra serán recompensados en la vida eterna del paraíso ¿Pero esa es realmente la verdad? Porque negar los placeres que una vida mundana nos ofrece solo por una promesa de una mejor vida después de la muerte.
El marqués de Sade aclamado autor, odiado por algunos, venerados por otros más, los temas que en la mayoría de sus obras están presentes son mal vistos por la sociedad, su libros más que eróticos llegan a ser sádicos, la vida de sus protagonistas llega a caer en lo enfermo, la práctica de la homosexualidad, la pedofilia, el incesto y la más raras prácticas sexuales que se imaginen han sido uno de los protagonistas de sus obras.
La vida de Julieta ha sido siempre la vida del pecado, desde el convento en donde realizaba orgías con sus superiores religiosos, hasta su salida del mismo en donde llega a trabajar en un burdel siendo una de las mejores y más solicitadas putas, su vida de casada dentro de la alta sociedad, su aventura con una princesa y la relación que mantenía con el papa, hicieron el camino de Julieta lleno de placer, riquezas, sin ningún rastro de bondad en ella.
Cruel y realista así es la vida de Julieta.
Sade hace un fantástico trabajo al recrear el ambiente en cuanto la maldad, el egoísmo y desprecio por la condición humana. Durante el recorrido de la vida de Julieta nos encontramos con experiencias que llegan a ser realmente crueles pero que son completamente necesarios para el mensaje que el autor nos quiere dar : el vicio siempre es recompensado, mientras que la virtud sólo nos lleva a un camino tortuoso pues pocas personas virtuosas quedan ya.
Excelente historia, no hay palabras para describir lo que esta obra te hace reflexionar, no es apta para todo público, pues dentro de sus páginas se encuentra la representación misma del pecado.
Desde el comienzo de la historia nos encontramos con un gran dilema moral, nos han pintado que en la religión todos son puros, no hay pecado, que las bondades de nuestros actos en la tierra serán recompensados en la vida eterna del paraíso ¿Pero esa es realmente la verdad? Porque negar los placeres que una vida mundana nos ofrece solo por una promesa de una mejor vida después de la muerte.
El marqués de Sade aclamado autor, odiado por algunos, venerados por otros más, los temas que en la mayoría de sus obras están presentes son mal vistos por la sociedad, su libros más que eróticos llegan a ser sádicos, la vida de sus protagonistas llega a caer en lo enfermo, la práctica de la homosexualidad, la pedofilia, el incesto y la más raras prácticas sexuales que se imaginen han sido uno de los protagonistas de sus obras.
La vida de Julieta ha sido siempre la vida del pecado, desde el convento en donde realizaba orgías con sus superiores religiosos, hasta su salida del mismo en donde llega a trabajar en un burdel siendo una de las mejores y más solicitadas putas, su vida de casada dentro de la alta sociedad, su aventura con una princesa y la relación que mantenía con el papa, hicieron el camino de Julieta lleno de placer, riquezas, sin ningún rastro de bondad en ella.
Cruel y realista así es la vida de Julieta.
Sade hace un fantástico trabajo al recrear el ambiente en cuanto la maldad, el egoísmo y desprecio por la condición humana. Durante el recorrido de la vida de Julieta nos encontramos con experiencias que llegan a ser realmente crueles pero que son completamente necesarios para el mensaje que el autor nos quiere dar : el vicio siempre es recompensado, mientras que la virtud sólo nos lleva a un camino tortuoso pues pocas personas virtuosas quedan ya.
Excelente historia, no hay palabras para describir lo que esta obra te hace reflexionar, no es apta para todo público, pues dentro de sus páginas se encuentra la representación misma del pecado.
February 15, 2013
If this was a better novel it would be one of the most notorious books ever written. Instead its author is notorious while his book is little-read.
The Marquis de Sade demonstrated powers of characterization and narrative in some his other works, but "Juliette" is a 1200-page slab of pornographic fantasy with philosophic pretensions. Like most wank fodder it is insanely repetitive: Juliette meets someone who shares her exact tastes; this figure gives an endless lecture of self-justification dressed up as philosophy; they have an orgy wherein many disposable partners are raped, tortured, killed. Then the cycle restarts over and over again. The violence of the orgies builds, but they're repeated so endlessly (alongside their prefatory lectures) that the reader is desensitized. If the book were only 300 pages long, it would have the concentrated power of snake venom.
"Juliette" even fails as pornography—-de Sade is more interested in describing sexual positions, via interminably detailed tableaux, than in describing the sensations of sex. But readers will get more than enough philosophical justification for the acts of sexual violence. De Sade’s basic philosophy is “I’m an asshole and I should be allowed to do whatever I want.” Why? Because such impulses are inspired by Nature--and Nature even approves of murder, because it frees up space for new beings! Despite being a committed atheist (many of his arguments are stolen from Baron D’Holbach), de Sade makes a Goddess out of Nature—-she endlessly “desires” whatever crime he feels like committing. What is more, mankind is claimed to have been originally solitary--a scientifically false idea derived from Rousseau. Like true sociopaths, de Sade's characters dismiss empathy and altruism as mere expressions of self-interest. How chagrined he would be to know the softer emotions he despised were shared by dolphins, elephants, chimpanzees, and other highly-intelligent Social animals! Such feelings and sociability are entirely natural, whereas de Sade’s characters are freaks, and their creator's view of nature is bunk.
De Sade needs nature’s backing to justify writing outrageous acts of cruelty, comprised of tortures that would make a concentration camp attendant proud. The book is in love with the idea of an egoistic self that uses others in any way it likes and destroys them to gratify its power. Hence the literal disposability of Juliette’s sex-victims—-thousands die to give her orgasms. None of her victims ever think to fight back or resist their sexual degradation and destruction--that would spoil the fantasy as much as giving the reader a chance to get to know Juliette's victims.
If this is such a failure of a novel, why do I give it three stars rather than none? Because de Sade writes with such evil energy; because his imagination is so fertile is devising the worst for mankind; because he goes to such Olympian lengths to invert the moral values of western civilization, even if his philosophy is ultimately spurious. Spend enough time with this book and you will feel de Sade working on your brain, daring you to indulge your worst self.
De Sade was only too convincing in showing the delight in making other suffer. In one of hundreds of sexual tortures, Juliette nibbles a boy’s penis until it’s almost severed. "Where did I read this before?" I thought, before remembering it was from an account of the mass-murder spree of Dean Corll and his accomplices, who sexually tortured and murdered nearly 30 teenaged boys in the 1970s--all for reasons as purely sadistic as de Sade’s. I shuddered at realizing the kinship in mentality. "Juliette" presages the atrocities of our own age; it still shocks and haunts.
A final note: the translation, by Austryn Wainhouse, is adept but irritating. He overuses fustian expressions like “‘tis” and has obnoxious tics like always referring to semen as “fuck” or employing pointlessly recondite words like “bardash” and “fustigate.”
The Marquis de Sade demonstrated powers of characterization and narrative in some his other works, but "Juliette" is a 1200-page slab of pornographic fantasy with philosophic pretensions. Like most wank fodder it is insanely repetitive: Juliette meets someone who shares her exact tastes; this figure gives an endless lecture of self-justification dressed up as philosophy; they have an orgy wherein many disposable partners are raped, tortured, killed. Then the cycle restarts over and over again. The violence of the orgies builds, but they're repeated so endlessly (alongside their prefatory lectures) that the reader is desensitized. If the book were only 300 pages long, it would have the concentrated power of snake venom.
"Juliette" even fails as pornography—-de Sade is more interested in describing sexual positions, via interminably detailed tableaux, than in describing the sensations of sex. But readers will get more than enough philosophical justification for the acts of sexual violence. De Sade’s basic philosophy is “I’m an asshole and I should be allowed to do whatever I want.” Why? Because such impulses are inspired by Nature--and Nature even approves of murder, because it frees up space for new beings! Despite being a committed atheist (many of his arguments are stolen from Baron D’Holbach), de Sade makes a Goddess out of Nature—-she endlessly “desires” whatever crime he feels like committing. What is more, mankind is claimed to have been originally solitary--a scientifically false idea derived from Rousseau. Like true sociopaths, de Sade's characters dismiss empathy and altruism as mere expressions of self-interest. How chagrined he would be to know the softer emotions he despised were shared by dolphins, elephants, chimpanzees, and other highly-intelligent Social animals! Such feelings and sociability are entirely natural, whereas de Sade’s characters are freaks, and their creator's view of nature is bunk.
De Sade needs nature’s backing to justify writing outrageous acts of cruelty, comprised of tortures that would make a concentration camp attendant proud. The book is in love with the idea of an egoistic self that uses others in any way it likes and destroys them to gratify its power. Hence the literal disposability of Juliette’s sex-victims—-thousands die to give her orgasms. None of her victims ever think to fight back or resist their sexual degradation and destruction--that would spoil the fantasy as much as giving the reader a chance to get to know Juliette's victims.
If this is such a failure of a novel, why do I give it three stars rather than none? Because de Sade writes with such evil energy; because his imagination is so fertile is devising the worst for mankind; because he goes to such Olympian lengths to invert the moral values of western civilization, even if his philosophy is ultimately spurious. Spend enough time with this book and you will feel de Sade working on your brain, daring you to indulge your worst self.
De Sade was only too convincing in showing the delight in making other suffer. In one of hundreds of sexual tortures, Juliette nibbles a boy’s penis until it’s almost severed. "Where did I read this before?" I thought, before remembering it was from an account of the mass-murder spree of Dean Corll and his accomplices, who sexually tortured and murdered nearly 30 teenaged boys in the 1970s--all for reasons as purely sadistic as de Sade’s. I shuddered at realizing the kinship in mentality. "Juliette" presages the atrocities of our own age; it still shocks and haunts.
A final note: the translation, by Austryn Wainhouse, is adept but irritating. He overuses fustian expressions like “‘tis” and has obnoxious tics like always referring to semen as “fuck” or employing pointlessly recondite words like “bardash” and “fustigate.”
September 18, 2011
In many ways this is Sade's magnum opus. From a literary standpoint it is much better than the bulk of his work, and from a philosophical standpoint it is the culmination of his belief system (though just as polemic as the rest). It also contains more actual eroticism than his other works, which tend to be mere torture porn. Juliette has actual relationships and is not invulnerable to the nagging humanity that plagues all classic villains. She can be swayed by her emotion, and while evil, is not the most libertine of libertines. Not necessarily for the novice, but very important for the adept.
June 19, 2020
Realmente, no terminé el libro, voy por un 42%, aún sin llegar a la mitad ya me cansé de tanto comemierdas, gente sin ningún tipo de conciencia ni control sobre sus instintos más primarios. No tengo ni idea si el libro cuenta sus vivencias personales o que cuenta. No es que esté mal escrito, y con algunas ideas filósoficas estoy de acuerdo así como las ideas en relación con la iglesia y el ateismo; pero es muy despiadado y guarro.
May 11, 2017
This book is gross in its over-the-top descriptions of monstrous sex. It's ridiculous, really, but I find it incredibly amusing because it's not meant to be taken seriously. The philosophy, however, is, and although it can sometimes get tedious, Sade has some good points on life worth discussing. A long read, and it could corrupt you, but it's a great ride worth trying out!
July 21, 2010
Ah the Marquis...always festive.
July 7, 2012
I started regretting not making more of a spectacle out of the commentary for this book; I had wanted to do more Dracula: the Un-Dead style commentary to alleviate my pain incurred from reading this thing and creating something chuckle worthy for posterity's sake. At first I thought this was due to laziness on my part, but upon further reflection, I think I have found the problem.
Thee book is not only bad, it is repetitive in its badness.
Honestly, there's not much to say beyond the following pattern:
1.) Ugh, an overwrought and boring (albeit sometimes creative) sex scene which is either physically impossible/gory to the point of either being gag-worthy or so cartoonish it can't faze an ADD kitten/replete with statements about how each successive character possesses the most perfect ass/any combination of the above. Can't wank to this since the book is so heavy. That and I am a sane human being.
2.) Yawn, an overwrought and fallacious argument that keeps restating the same blatant contradictions and is rested on faulty at best premises. Socrates' proof of the doctrine of recollection by assuming an immortal soul and using that conclusion to prove the soul is immortal is starting to look really good now.
3.) Oh wow, the story is now actually making me miss the sex and the philosophy. Kill me.
4.) Rinse and repeat.
5.)???
6.)No profit.
I think I am correct in stating that this would have been dull as dishwater to post with any notable frequency. At least Stoker and Holt came up with something that was creatively stupid and left itself open to a variety of commentary, but not here. The cherry on the top of the sundae is that this went on for almost 1200 pages; unlike the other volumes of this ilk, there are no articles by other writers or other works of de Sade; the entire book is nothing but a giant trollfic, complete with at least one scene where the plot stops for the characters to review the books in a room and talk about what mean poopie heads the (presumably real)writers are and an overlong life story of a pointless character.
There are rare bursts of insanity throughout the whole thing that are creative in their own way, however; at one point, a ludicrous and messed up albeit otherwise grounded in reality historical smut romp takes unsignaled left turns into fantasy with scenes involving giants that are so well hung that the act of sex kills their partner and a sorceress who has a potion that turns skeletons into well hung men.
At one point, the protagonist, who in an earlier scene has been double penetrated by penises measuring about 9 inches in circumference and 13 inches in length with no problem, is presented with a penis that is 8 inches in circumference and a foot in length; upon sight of this, she starts complaining that it is so big it will kill her. Let's set aside the unlikely measurements and the dubious idea of a woman being able to participate in such a double penetration without suffering internal bleeding, let's even forget *everything* else wrong with this book and give our sole focus to this little problem.
*ahem*
WHAT THE FRACKING HELL???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!
8 inches<9 inches.
12 inches<13 inches.
1 penis<2 penises.
This is basic math that a Kindergarten student could have done!*
In no possible way should this hurt her, yet one bumtupping(*) later her fundament(*) is bleeding as if she had been trying to shove a copy of the manuscript in there. Unfortunately for me, this clearly did not happen, as the book was successfully published.
The whole book continues this way, plodding along with no semblance of plot beyond the above listed routine. Finally, as the book drew to a close, I reflected how it would feel to be free of the author's smug footnotes telling the ladies to pay particular attention to this bit of bad argument, cite to alleged facts that have no discoverable notation linking them to the bibliography or giving page references, or (no joke) indicating that the book originally contained a recipe for a deadly poison that has been edited out of this release, and it felt sweet. I didn't even let my rage break at the realization that Justine's death breaks continuity with Justine, the book's sister novel. It was only when I realized that de Sade's creation was starting to break the fourth wall in the last two pages that I felt panic set in, compelling me to quickly finish and slam the book shut lest it cause a dimensional rift to open and let the insanity spill forth into our world.
All in all, this book sucks. I am aware that similar problems were present to a lesser degree in the last 2 books I read, but the sheer magnitude of the bad stuff this time around and the ponderous length of the book make it intolerable. Do not read for any reason.
*This is not an endorsement to use the Marquis de Sade's Juliette as a tool for teaching math to anyone of any age, ethnicity, race, national origin, creed, orientation, or any other class of self aware entities I have left out in my sleep deprived state of mind. Anyone who actually needed to read this to know that should remember that it is down the street, not across the road.**
(*)Actual language used by the author. While it may have been commonplace at the time, any sense of steaminess that may have been induced by this language is killed by the characters using it in long unbroken sentences indicating they are having tea rather than nookie.
**The writer of this review does not wish to drive anyone to suicide through this comment. Anyone who actually needed to read this to know that should send an email to freedesadebookforidiot@gmail.com and see what prize you have won.
Thee book is not only bad, it is repetitive in its badness.
Honestly, there's not much to say beyond the following pattern:
1.) Ugh, an overwrought and boring (albeit sometimes creative) sex scene which is either physically impossible/gory to the point of either being gag-worthy or so cartoonish it can't faze an ADD kitten/replete with statements about how each successive character possesses the most perfect ass/any combination of the above. Can't wank to this since the book is so heavy. That and I am a sane human being.
2.) Yawn, an overwrought and fallacious argument that keeps restating the same blatant contradictions and is rested on faulty at best premises. Socrates' proof of the doctrine of recollection by assuming an immortal soul and using that conclusion to prove the soul is immortal is starting to look really good now.
3.) Oh wow, the story is now actually making me miss the sex and the philosophy. Kill me.
4.) Rinse and repeat.
5.)???
6.)No profit.
I think I am correct in stating that this would have been dull as dishwater to post with any notable frequency. At least Stoker and Holt came up with something that was creatively stupid and left itself open to a variety of commentary, but not here. The cherry on the top of the sundae is that this went on for almost 1200 pages; unlike the other volumes of this ilk, there are no articles by other writers or other works of de Sade; the entire book is nothing but a giant trollfic, complete with at least one scene where the plot stops for the characters to review the books in a room and talk about what mean poopie heads the (presumably real)writers are and an overlong life story of a pointless character.
There are rare bursts of insanity throughout the whole thing that are creative in their own way, however; at one point, a ludicrous and messed up albeit otherwise grounded in reality historical smut romp takes unsignaled left turns into fantasy with scenes involving giants that are so well hung that the act of sex kills their partner and a sorceress who has a potion that turns skeletons into well hung men.
At one point, the protagonist, who in an earlier scene has been double penetrated by penises measuring about 9 inches in circumference and 13 inches in length with no problem, is presented with a penis that is 8 inches in circumference and a foot in length; upon sight of this, she starts complaining that it is so big it will kill her. Let's set aside the unlikely measurements and the dubious idea of a woman being able to participate in such a double penetration without suffering internal bleeding, let's even forget *everything* else wrong with this book and give our sole focus to this little problem.
*ahem*
WHAT THE FRACKING HELL???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!
8 inches<9 inches.
12 inches<13 inches.
1 penis<2 penises.
This is basic math that a Kindergarten student could have done!*
In no possible way should this hurt her, yet one bumtupping(*) later her fundament(*) is bleeding as if she had been trying to shove a copy of the manuscript in there. Unfortunately for me, this clearly did not happen, as the book was successfully published.
The whole book continues this way, plodding along with no semblance of plot beyond the above listed routine. Finally, as the book drew to a close, I reflected how it would feel to be free of the author's smug footnotes telling the ladies to pay particular attention to this bit of bad argument, cite to alleged facts that have no discoverable notation linking them to the bibliography or giving page references, or (no joke) indicating that the book originally contained a recipe for a deadly poison that has been edited out of this release, and it felt sweet. I didn't even let my rage break at the realization that Justine's death breaks continuity with Justine, the book's sister novel. It was only when I realized that de Sade's creation was starting to break the fourth wall in the last two pages that I felt panic set in, compelling me to quickly finish and slam the book shut lest it cause a dimensional rift to open and let the insanity spill forth into our world.
All in all, this book sucks. I am aware that similar problems were present to a lesser degree in the last 2 books I read, but the sheer magnitude of the bad stuff this time around and the ponderous length of the book make it intolerable. Do not read for any reason.
*This is not an endorsement to use the Marquis de Sade's Juliette as a tool for teaching math to anyone of any age, ethnicity, race, national origin, creed, orientation, or any other class of self aware entities I have left out in my sleep deprived state of mind. Anyone who actually needed to read this to know that should remember that it is down the street, not across the road.**
(*)Actual language used by the author. While it may have been commonplace at the time, any sense of steaminess that may have been induced by this language is killed by the characters using it in long unbroken sentences indicating they are having tea rather than nookie.
**The writer of this review does not wish to drive anyone to suicide through this comment. Anyone who actually needed to read this to know that should send an email to freedesadebookforidiot@gmail.com and see what prize you have won.
April 19, 2022
Wie soll man dieser ständigen Wiederkehr des Immergleichen gerecht werden? Ausführliche Rezi später
September 12, 2012
I read/owned this book many years ago, and eventually sold the book to a used bookstore, because I could not see myself reading it for a second time. I confess that I only picked this de Sade book in particular (I was curious about de Sade anyway) because of the title character. Since my name is so awesome (har har), I gravitate toward characters who share it with me.
I did like the book, and it did open my eyes to new things... but damn, if this book is not disturbing. The sex is kinky every time, but I found myself nodding off and skimming when any of the characters started ranting about something they didn't like.
Essentially, this book (well all of them, really) was a way for de Sade to talk about the things he hated the most. Which is quite a bit - virginity, marriage, the government, the clergy, anything vanilla, pregnancy, babies, vaginal sex (because anal sex is so much better), etc. Nothing is untouched, the list goes on and on. There are several "lectures" given by several different characters, and I think the funniest are the ones about virginity and marriage given by priests and nuns who are all having sex with each other. Virginity must be banished and no one should ever get married. The irony is hilarious. Also, murder is a frequent side effect of everything, no consequences anywhere (why would there be consequences, justice as we know it does not exist anywhere in this story).
Sex in this book includes: the taking of everyone's virginity in the book (this is not very far off the mark), sex with clergy, beating, spanking, sex using torture objects, blood play, anal sex, pedophilia, heterosexuality, homosexuality, orgies (sex with just two people involved in this book is actually very rare), sex involving fecal play, rape, incest, being sexed until someone dies (usually a woman), having sex with dead people. The only thing I don't remember occurring is bestiality, but if I read it again, I would not be surprised to find it buried in there somewhere. Juliette gets pregnant with her father's baby, has an abortion, and talks about how wonderful it was because it made her so much slimmer and more fit than she was pre-pregnancy. When she does eventually give birth to a child, she uses her for sexual favors at an older age, but otherwise pretends that her daughter doesn't exist. I'm pretty sure she ends up killing her father, and the last scene in the book involves Juliette facilitating her sister Justine's death, in a sexual way, of course (Justine stars in another de Sade book).
The "point" of the book is that morality, religion, law, etc., and other similar concepts don't mean anything, and you should find and take the pleasure you need, no matter who gets hurt. This is not a book for someone with a weak stomach. And it is NOT a romance novel. I don't EVER support censorship for any reason, I support free will and ability to judge ideas with your own mind; but this book was banned for good reasons. Some people would not be able to handle this. If the movie "Quills" bothered you in any capacity (a story based on Marquis de Sade's imprisonment) DO NOT READ THIS.
I did like the book, and it did open my eyes to new things... but damn, if this book is not disturbing. The sex is kinky every time, but I found myself nodding off and skimming when any of the characters started ranting about something they didn't like.
Essentially, this book (well all of them, really) was a way for de Sade to talk about the things he hated the most. Which is quite a bit - virginity, marriage, the government, the clergy, anything vanilla, pregnancy, babies, vaginal sex (because anal sex is so much better), etc. Nothing is untouched, the list goes on and on. There are several "lectures" given by several different characters, and I think the funniest are the ones about virginity and marriage given by priests and nuns who are all having sex with each other. Virginity must be banished and no one should ever get married. The irony is hilarious. Also, murder is a frequent side effect of everything, no consequences anywhere (why would there be consequences, justice as we know it does not exist anywhere in this story).
Sex in this book includes: the taking of everyone's virginity in the book (this is not very far off the mark), sex with clergy, beating, spanking, sex using torture objects, blood play, anal sex, pedophilia, heterosexuality, homosexuality, orgies (sex with just two people involved in this book is actually very rare), sex involving fecal play, rape, incest, being sexed until someone dies (usually a woman), having sex with dead people. The only thing I don't remember occurring is bestiality, but if I read it again, I would not be surprised to find it buried in there somewhere. Juliette gets pregnant with her father's baby, has an abortion, and talks about how wonderful it was because it made her so much slimmer and more fit than she was pre-pregnancy. When she does eventually give birth to a child, she uses her for sexual favors at an older age, but otherwise pretends that her daughter doesn't exist. I'm pretty sure she ends up killing her father, and the last scene in the book involves Juliette facilitating her sister Justine's death, in a sexual way, of course (Justine stars in another de Sade book).
The "point" of the book is that morality, religion, law, etc., and other similar concepts don't mean anything, and you should find and take the pleasure you need, no matter who gets hurt. This is not a book for someone with a weak stomach. And it is NOT a romance novel. I don't EVER support censorship for any reason, I support free will and ability to judge ideas with your own mind; but this book was banned for good reasons. Some people would not be able to handle this. If the movie "Quills" bothered you in any capacity (a story based on Marquis de Sade's imprisonment) DO NOT READ THIS.
April 27, 2017
This book is a lot of things. It's a well-written and imaginative masterpiece of cold, brutal philosophy; it's a cornucopia of jaw-dropping, though ultimately numbing, horror; it's an encyclopedia of repetitive, boring sexual escapades (different sex, same sex, group sex, incest, beastiality, necrophilia, bum-stuffing, mard-munching, golden showers: pretty much all fetish bases covered)--in short, it's an experience that is not for the faint-hearted.
There's a passion and a joy to all 1205 pages that propels the story and makes even the long stretches of philosophy fun to read. Sade can playful with his language and clearly loves telling obscene stories. But his natural tendency to direct a stage version of his orgies trips him up as he blocks the various "scenes" of libertinage in the book before they begin, rendering them artificial and uninteresting after a time; however, every once in a while, when he has only two actors (usually two women), his pornography becomes quite titillating. That usually only lasts a paragraph or two, but it does provide a refreshing break from the drudgery of the orgies. And while the crimes perpetrated by the characters start out as shocking, they become less so as the the page count amasses and the crimes become more outrageous. I became desensitized to the horrors of Juliette by the end of Part Four (around page 800).
My favorite part of the book was the novella-length story told by the Italian highwayman who captures Juliette. Fortunately, it began on page 815 and gave me my second wind with this book.
I thought that after reading Justine, or Good Conduct Well Chastised that the Marquis detested women. But it turns out that he only detests women who are virtuous. Those free of social bondages and of a libertine and criminal bent he admires. So add the Marquis to your list of feminist authors.
I won't recommend this book to anyone. Honestly, if you are of this bent or are curious as to what Sade is really about (outside reputation and the movies), you'll find your way here on your own. I was of the curious who did and I have fully sated that curiosity. I'm done with him. So I now consign the Marquis to the oblivion of eternity he so desired and a dusty book shelf in my basement. I at least now know the truth behind the legend.
There's a passion and a joy to all 1205 pages that propels the story and makes even the long stretches of philosophy fun to read. Sade can playful with his language and clearly loves telling obscene stories. But his natural tendency to direct a stage version of his orgies trips him up as he blocks the various "scenes" of libertinage in the book before they begin, rendering them artificial and uninteresting after a time; however, every once in a while, when he has only two actors (usually two women), his pornography becomes quite titillating. That usually only lasts a paragraph or two, but it does provide a refreshing break from the drudgery of the orgies. And while the crimes perpetrated by the characters start out as shocking, they become less so as the the page count amasses and the crimes become more outrageous. I became desensitized to the horrors of Juliette by the end of Part Four (around page 800).
My favorite part of the book was the novella-length story told by the Italian highwayman who captures Juliette. Fortunately, it began on page 815 and gave me my second wind with this book.
I thought that after reading Justine, or Good Conduct Well Chastised that the Marquis detested women. But it turns out that he only detests women who are virtuous. Those free of social bondages and of a libertine and criminal bent he admires. So add the Marquis to your list of feminist authors.
I won't recommend this book to anyone. Honestly, if you are of this bent or are curious as to what Sade is really about (outside reputation and the movies), you'll find your way here on your own. I was of the curious who did and I have fully sated that curiosity. I'm done with him. So I now consign the Marquis to the oblivion of eternity he so desired and a dusty book shelf in my basement. I at least now know the truth behind the legend.
June 9, 2020
Why are bad girls happier than good ones?
Girls, from an early age, tend to be surrounded by people and do things that make them happy. They are taught to behave well, but sometimes this kindness is misunderstood and eventually hurt.
As they grow older, when they grow up according to psychologists, it seems that this kindness has killed exactly happiness. So part of them focus entirely on themselves and do everything for their own pleasure and interests. Therefore and sometimes labeled as 'bad girls'.
Girls, from an early age, tend to be surrounded by people and do things that make them happy. They are taught to behave well, but sometimes this kindness is misunderstood and eventually hurt.
As they grow older, when they grow up according to psychologists, it seems that this kindness has killed exactly happiness. So part of them focus entirely on themselves and do everything for their own pleasure and interests. Therefore and sometimes labeled as 'bad girls'.
February 26, 2021
Le doy 3 estrellas porque la lectura es bastante densa. Es como si estuviera en frente de un paciente perverso que inunda mi mente de sus experiencias sexuales bastante gráficas.
El libro lo releí para elaborar mi ensayo de la materia de Trastornos sexuales y psicopatía. El tema que decidí abordar fue las perversiones sexuales y este libro las ejemplifica muy bien.
El libro lo releí para elaborar mi ensayo de la materia de Trastornos sexuales y psicopatía. El tema que decidí abordar fue las perversiones sexuales y este libro las ejemplifica muy bien.
July 12, 2021
Escandaloso a pesar de haber sido escrito hace más de 200 años, es una lectura fuerte #efectovalentina
December 1, 2015
While deciding to read this book I was slightly apprehensive whether it would be solely filled with obscenities or it would legitimately transmit a different take on life and society's dogmas. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised.
I have found Juliette to be an extensive reflection on the matter of religion, monogamy and other subjects of the sorts. Yes, it does have various explicit passages but those are purely a way of demonstrating the alternative mind of Marquis de Sade. Demonstratively, one of the characters of the book states: "There's more to it than just experiencing sensations, they must also be analyzed. Sometimes it is as pleasant to discuss as to undergo them; and when one has reached the limit of one's physical means, one may then exploit one's intellect".
The book presents an eloquent language and proves the author not as an obscene man but as an well informed, lived and educated person.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone of a mature mind who is interested in familiarizing himself with a divergent perspective on life, sexuality and human interactions.
I have found Juliette to be an extensive reflection on the matter of religion, monogamy and other subjects of the sorts. Yes, it does have various explicit passages but those are purely a way of demonstrating the alternative mind of Marquis de Sade. Demonstratively, one of the characters of the book states: "There's more to it than just experiencing sensations, they must also be analyzed. Sometimes it is as pleasant to discuss as to undergo them; and when one has reached the limit of one's physical means, one may then exploit one's intellect".
The book presents an eloquent language and proves the author not as an obscene man but as an well informed, lived and educated person.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone of a mature mind who is interested in familiarizing himself with a divergent perspective on life, sexuality and human interactions.
September 16, 2022
Mucho se crítica en la actualidad a William Shakespeare, William Faulkner, Cervantes de Saavedra y al Marqués de Sade pro sus obras. Si bien, este peculiar escritor engendró y le dio forma o mejor dicho le dio toda la vida completa a un estilo que, en lo personal, hoy tratan de copiar aunque lo repudian muchos noveles. Y es que el Marqués, siendo irreverente y "sádico" (aunque para mí solo fue alguien excéntrico nada más) no sólo consiguió darle forma al erotismo desde sus inicios sino que también logró hacer fuertes críticas y denuncias sociales a través de sus obras. El Marqués; más allá de ser un ícono del erotismo, también lo fue o bueno aún es: del amor. No ese amor cursi, romántico y rosa. Sino un amor real y más humano sin perder su estilo tan característico. A veces creo que quienes critican tan mal a estos autores. Simplemente, no vieron bien sus obras y dejaron pasar por encima muchas cosas de sus estilos pero bueno, la complejidad y belleza hoy en día está algo satanizada.
May 8, 2024
Breaks the convention that only blondes are angelical whilst brunettes are satanic, which was the Christian established withheld thought since even before and particularly during medieval Europe, until then; and literature. Instead he portrays the dark haired woman as virtuous as opposed to the blonde (who may not always be), leading to the quest for societal equality. The love for the dark (gothic) is what makes him a pioneer in his thinking, and together with Zola, will inspire many writers and painters, who'll also begin to paint nature at its darkest, i.e. John Constable and William Turner's tempest/thunderstorm paintings are very famous for being inspired by him.
January 29, 2017
Disfruto mucho de los argumentos y filosofías del Marqués de Sade, se me hacen bastante interesantes, y este libro contiene bastante de ello.
La historia me gustó y me atrapó bastante, hasta encontré chistoso y divertido el hecho de ser recompensado por ser malvado y ser castigado por ser bondadoso. Si llegó un punto en el que me asqueé y no quería seguir leyendo, pero quería saber que pasaba con Julieta. En conclusión, si es un libro chocante y repulsivo, pero ser capaz de escribir de esa manera también merece admiración, ya que la narración nunca se vuelve aburrida o pobre.
La historia me gustó y me atrapó bastante, hasta encontré chistoso y divertido el hecho de ser recompensado por ser malvado y ser castigado por ser bondadoso. Si llegó un punto en el que me asqueé y no quería seguir leyendo, pero quería saber que pasaba con Julieta. En conclusión, si es un libro chocante y repulsivo, pero ser capaz de escribir de esa manera también merece admiración, ya que la narración nunca se vuelve aburrida o pobre.
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