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The 120 Days of Sodom

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( 14,548 ratings, 1,684 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade is a controversial and challenging work. Set in a remote castle, it follows four libertines who indulge in extreme and vile acts of depravity, exploring themes of unfettered power and corruption. Delving into the darkest aspects of human nature, the book pushes the boundaries of morality and societal norms.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A new translation of Sade's most notorious, shocking and influential novel.

This horrible but hugely important text has influenced countless individuals throughout history. Flaubert and Baudelaire both read Sade; the surrealists were obsessed with him; filmmakers like Pasolini saw parallels with twentieth-century history in his writings; and feminists such as Simone de Beauvoir and Angela Carter clashed over him.

This new translation brings Sade's provocative novel into Penguin Classics for the first time and will reignite the debate around this most controversial of writers.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Reviews of The 120 Days of Sodom highlight the excellence of the recent translation by Will McMorran and Thomas Wynn, praised for its clarity and fidelity to the original text. Critics commend the translation for avoiding archaic language and providing readers with an insightful view of Sade's world. The scholarly introduction offers valuable historical context, underscoring the novel's unsettling relevance to contemporary times.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141394343

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 September 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Dr Will McMorran
  • Translated by Thomas Wynn
  • Translated by Dr Will McMorran

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 326g

Pages: 464

About the Author

The Marquis de Sade (Author) The Marquis de Sade was born in Paris in 1740. He was imprisoned several times for his scandalous behaviour, and wrote The 120 Days of Sodom, his most notorious work, while in prison in the Bastille. He managed to ingratiate himself with the new regime after the French Revolution, but by 1796 was a ruined man. He died in an insane asylum in 1814. Will McMorran (Translator) Will McMorran is a Senior Lecturer in French and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary, University of London. Thomas Wynn (Translator) Thomas Wynn is Reader and Director of Research in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University.

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