Venus in Furs

The daring successor to the writings of the Marquis de Sade, this 1870 novel offers a tale of submission, slavery, and redemption. Author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch -- whose name provided the basis for the term "masochism" -- drew upon his own experiences to chronicle the slavish obsession of a European nobleman, Severin von Kusiemski, with Wanda von Dunajew, a voluptuous, whip-wielding beauty.

More than a sordid tale of perversion, this timeless psychodrama depicts von Kusiemski's surrender to the cruelties of a harsh mistress as his path to the realization of his own worth. A classic exploration of sexual dominance and submission, Venus in Furs constitutes an intelligent and thought-provoking portrayal of desire, emotion, and self-discovery.