Gothic Tales

Description

Chilling short stories that straddle the line between horror and erotica, full of passion and intrigue, from legendary 18th century Parisian aristocrat, the Marquis de Sade

“Ghouls and fiends, hapless femmes and dastardly villains; de Sade could weave a good gothic tale” — The Herald (Glasgow)

Notorious for his erotic novels which made his name unmentionable in civilized circles, de Sade’s fiction delves deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche and remains as relevant to our society as it was to his own.

Thrumming with devious fantasies and dangerous liaisons, these gothic stories lay bare the transgressive desires of his unforgettable characters. As good behaviour gives way to wicked impulse, each finely crafted tale reveals an uncomfortable truth about human nature, from a pitch-black social comedy exposing the hypocrisies of the church to a drama-laden deep dive into adultery.

Infamous for spending decades in prison and condemned by Parisian society, de Sade’s writing provocatively challenges the morality of day, introducing through these stories a lawless locale of vice and freedom.
Gothic Tales provides a tantalizing entry point, showcasing Sade’s gift as both a moralist and a humorist through classic stories including “Eugenie de Franval” and “The Husband Who Plays Priest”.

Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: outstanding classic storytelling from around the world, in a stylishly original series design. From newly rediscovered gems to fresh translations of the world’s greatest authors, this series includes such authors as Stefan Zweig, Hermann Hesse, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and Gaito GazdanovThe Marquis de Sade was born in Paris in 1740 and served as a cavalry officer in the Seven Years War. His debauched life led to long periods of imprisonment, during which much of his work was written. The revolution freed him and he became a zealous revolutionary; however the publication of such works as Justine and La Philosophie dans la boudoir resulted in his renewed imprisonment and in 1803 he was declared insane and committed to the asylum at Charenton, where he died in 1814.

Margaret Crosland was an English literary biographer and translator. Born in Shropshire, Crosland wrote biographies of Colette, Jon Coteau, Simone de Beauvoir and Edith Piaf, and translated works by writers include Marquis de Sade, Emile Zola, Edmond de Goncourt and Cesare Pavese.GB

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