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gmbain's review against another edition
katieejayne's review against another edition
4.0
For those unaware the Marquis De Sade is worth a google (for the more mature crowd), he was a notorious 'sexual deviant' of his time and wrote works such as Juliet and Justine. Both of which are steeped in promiscuity, sexual fantasies and all manner of taboo subjects. Yet they offer an interesting commentary.
Carter has her own take on his work and reading this extended essay I can see his influence in her own stories. It was fascinating if a difficult read at some points. It's certainly not one you want people reading over your shoulder. If you have an interest in Angela Carter, the Marquis De Sade or gender studies I'd highly suggest giving this a go!
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
tailwhip's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
paulcowdell's review against another edition
4.0
One of the problems is that people read commentators on Sade more than they read Sade himself. (My advice: read Sade ...) Carter's book usefully outlines the plots of Justine, Juliette, and Philosophy in the Boudoir, but if you've read them you may question the need for that degree of explanation.
I did find myself a little disappointed that even Angela Carter succumbed to a tendency of cultural theorists & commentators not to feel any need for accuracy. They're only little things, but giving the wrong Marx Brothers film title (a capital crime in this household) and misquoting Some Like It Hot in a really interesting discussion of Marilyn Monroe and Justine is just unforgivably sloppy.
AND: at one point, Carter mentions Sade defining art as 'the perpetual immoral subversion of the existing order'. You'll find this all over the net, usually unattributed but where it is attributed, inevitably ascribed to Carter. The quotation is accurate, but it isn't about art, it's about legislation and manners. Artists have seized on the description as a good summary of what there is in Sade to inspire, and it looks like Carter (drawing from the inspiration the Surrealists found in Sade) enthusiastically took it in this direction, but it's not /quite/ what Sade said. Which matters, because Sade is always - but /always/ - precise.
I
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
2.0
isabellediggle's review against another edition
2.0
(Please check the content warnings before reading this book!)
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail