Product Description

"Venus in Furs" describes the obsessions of Severin von Kusiemski, a European nobleman who desires to be enslaved to a woman. Severin finds his ideal of voluptuous cruelty in the merciless Wanda von Dunajew. This is a passionate and powerful portrayal of one man's struggle to enlighten and instruct himself and others in the realm of desire. Published in 1870, the novel gained notoriety and a degree of immortality for its author when the word "masochism" - derived from his name - entered the vocabulary of psychiatry. This remains a classic literary statement on sexual submission and control.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12046 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-05
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Synopsis
"Venus in Furs" describes the obsessions of Severin von Kusiemski, a European nobleman who desires to be enslaved to a woman. Severin finds his ideal of voluptuous cruelty in the merciless Wanda von Dunajew. This is a passionate and powerful portrayal of one man's struggle to enlighten and instruct himself and others in the realm of desire. Published in 1870, the novel gained notoriety and a degree of immortality for its author when the word "masochism" - derived from his name - entered the vocabulary of psychiatry. This remains a classic literary statement on sexual submission and control.

About the Author
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895) was born in the Galician city of Lemberg. A novelist and poet, he is also known for his 'Stories of the Russian Court'. Joachim Neugroschel has translated Hermann Hess's 'Siddhartha' and Thomas Mann's 'Death in Venice' for Penguin Classics. He has won three PEN translation awards and a French-American translation prize. Larry Wolff is Professor of History at Boston College.

Customer Reviews

The start of a genre....
You can guess the subject matter from the authors name, Masoch. Of course the masochism is not as explicit as one might expect due to the times it was written, but the psychological aspects are all there. The eroticism is veiled but still intense. There is some whip use for fans of this genre though! Essentially it is a story of Severin's obsessive love for the sumptuous Wanda, and the self inflicted degradation it entails. He feels the only way he can express his love is through suffering, and this is where all the psychological and physical games begin. Severin becomes her slave, she gives him a new name and humiliates him. Then to "Gregor's" dismay she takes a new lover....and things get out of control. Worth looking at the graphic novel by Guido Crepax too. A true classic!

Mediocre literature
For those who wish to become possessed with the parodies and ironies involved in eighteenth century literature, this book is sure to stun. With its complexities and philosophical questions arising from the first page, it seems almost surprising that this book would be considered 'erotic' literature.

Certainly, for those interested in such a genre, it would be recommended if only for its disturbing recreation of sadistic acts and the power of the literature itself but it is far from done distastefully. With only a few sadistic acts, it is not for those longing to delve into literature of both temptation and lust.

In truth, I was surprised at both the ending and the questions it imposed upon the reader. It was structured in such a fashion as to provoke that and, if that was the writer's intention, I truly applaud him on that respect. However, I do find that the focus upon a single character was done to a mediocre level and the main character at that was almost dimmed in comparison to lesser characters.

The book should be read for those wishing to induce thought in their minds, to understand the nature of temptation and lust but it is far from truly erotic in comparison to other novels of a similar kind. I believe that the book was written with a wonderfully creative mind, limited only by the mediocrity of characters and the writer's will to place a man at the forefront of the novel.

'If you can't be a decent, faithful wife, then be a devil'
'Venus in Furs' is the story of Severin von Kusiemski, a young man who falls passionately in love (or lust?, you decide) with a flame-haired beauty called Wanda von Dunajew. Initially he wants Wanda to be his wife but says that, if she is unable to commit in this way, he will become her slave to do with as she will.

This is a story about sexual obsession, cruelty and humiliation, and although it was written in the late nineteenth century the psychological power of the novel is still pretty shocking. (Just as an aside, if you are reading this for its pornographic content, you might be better looking elsewhere!) It becomes even more fascinating when you read the introduction and find that much of the novel mirrors Sacher-Masoch's life!

An interesting and thought provoking read.