Incest

"The scandalous, the long-ignored, the at last all but unnameable author." Henry James

When the immoral libertine Monsieur de Franval marries and fathers a daughter, he decides to inculcate in her a sense of absolute freedom, an unconventional education that involves the two becoming secret lovers. But Franval's virtuous, God-fearing wife becomes suspicious and confronts him, setting off a tragic chain of events.

Part of Sade's The Crimes of Love cycle, this shocking tale - which was among the writings banned for publication until the twentieth century - tests the limits of morality and portrays the disastrous consequences of freedom and pleasure.

About the Author

The Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) was a French aristocrat famous for his libertine lifestyle. He spent many years in various prisons and insane asylums. Sade's works are notorious for their combination of philosophical discourse and pornography.