Gothic Tales

8 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 erotic novels that use satire and social critique to challenge the aristocracy in Pre-revolutionary France, his sexual transgressive work made his name unmentionable in civilized circles. Writing about Enlightenment philosophy as much as he does about incest and adultery, 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.

With a provocative introduction from translator Margaret Crossland, 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
• The Horse-Chestnut Flower
• The Chastised Husband
• Florville and Courval
• The Husband who Played Priest
• Emilie de Tourville
• Room for Two
• The Self-Made Cuckold

The 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.