This was my first time reading anything from this author so I was not prepared! Luckily I enjoy reader the darker themes so it did not bother me at all. These stories were well written but definitely not for everyone.

Prior to this, I had never read any of Sade’s work. I’m not sure I ever will again.

His writing interweaves sexuality and behavior/emotions as a sort of psychological analysis of mankind (according to the foreword which I found to be quite good background!). I appreciated that while Sade’s work is very sexual, it’s not very graphic. At least by today’s standards.

These stories all read as a lot of rambling and word vomit which isn’t my cup of tea. Almost every paragraph seemed endless and my eyes would just get so fatigued. I also think the arrangement of the stories could’ve been better (start with 2-3 shorter stories rather than with Eugénie de Franval, perhaps putting that one last because it seems to best demonstrate Sade’s writing prowess).

Overall
Although I struggled to the end, I’m glad I got to try something new despite Sade turning out to not be for me!



Thank you Pushkin Press Classics and NetGalley for the DRC! This title will be available September 3, 2024.

I am a huge fan of the sadistic Marquis de Sade. I loved reading this collection of his tales as it helps dive into the mind of insanity through trauma and really makes you feel unsettled. A good book to read right before bed, as it’ll give you that chill down your spine.

Soooo wonderful. Gothic Tales contains a handful of work by de Sade, of which the novellas Eugénie de Franval and Florville and Courval make up the bulk of it. This was my first collection by the author, and they were so much fun! The work is disparate enough in tone that I can say assuredly that the term "gothic tales" is more to sell copies than anything (the original title, Eugénie de Franval and Other Stories is far more appropriate, though far less likely to be taken to check out). Much of the delight in these stories is the melodrama—It reminded me of how fun reading early 18th-century work like Love in Excess by Eliza Haywood could be—and the stories often ran like a contemporary telenovela.

The fun of it all could be obscured by the bits of real horror, of which the first novella, Eugénie de Franval takes the bulk of. While sometimes obscured by the ridiculousness of the situation, de Sade writes moments of real hand-over-mouth disgust, surprise, and terror that somehow transcend the 200 years since his words were written. His style is dated, there's no argument, but what I love about 18th-century work is that political and religious diatribe, of which de Sade has much to say. His mind is fascinating: how unique it is to read true moral ambiguities from a man born half a century before the French Revolution! To explore these big questions through sex and the institutions we have built around them! I must read the rest of his work!

The only real criticism I can make against this book is the introduction, which is more of a statement on this edition being simply a reproduction of previous publishing houses' work. The work as it stands was first translated in 1965 by Margaret Crosland for Neville Spearman Ltd., who wrote a small introduction for the 1990 edition when Peter Owen Publishers owned the rights. This introduction is extremely poor and does not appropriately introduce the material in the book as it should, which is especially egregious as it's both a collection of stories written throughout his life AND written by someone whose infamy precedes himself, colouring the entirety of this work. Doing some digging, it seems Pushkin Press has bought the Peter Owen press and simply made a reproduction of the last edition :( This was the most disappointing feature of this book: If you are going to hold the translated rights to work in a genre as complicated as the Libertines please do it some justice and hire a proper academic to write a proper introduction!

In all though, a wonderful time.

I went into this book, expecting to be scandalized by the infamous Marquis de Sade. Now, having read it, I have to say that the writing is much more modest than anticipated—although, I suppose in the Georgian times it was decidedly scandalous. That is not to say that it doesn't hit on many illegal and/or taboo topics, because it does. If you read this one, just go in with an open mind and realistic expectations.

Good writing. Interesting stories. Some serious moments and some humorous moments. I found the horse-chestnut story to be particularly delightful.

I do need to mention that this is a bit of a challenging read, as is most writing of that time. So, expect a slow pace and many long, convoluted sentences (although I did find that the shorter stories read better than the longer ones).

A strange, but fun read.

Maquis de Sade has won me over with this! i was struck by how much I loved these stories. A must read!

As you might expect if you're a fan of de Sade, this collection was a bit of a wild ride!
Some stories were great ("Emilie de Tourville" being my favorite) while others were a bit lackluster and harder to get through.
But the writing is just beautiful throughout, and if you love the opulent prose of the 1800s this one is probably one of the greatest examples!
That being said, this collection definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. The explicit content and dark themes might be too much for some readersーalthough I would imagine most people know what they're getting themselves into when they pick up a de Sade book. Just... maybe don't give it to your grandma.

If you're into gothic literature and love taboo themes and stepping outside of the comfort zone, Gothic Tales is a must-read!

What a beautifully written collection of Gothic tales from the talented de Sade. If I'm understanding correctly, these are newly updated and expanded stories based upon new literature from de Sade being discovered and they eloquently explore the dark and depraved side of human nature in a way that few others have managed to emulate.

In the film Quills, the Abbe retorts to the Marquis De Sade as follows:

‘Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not the anti-Christ. You’re nothing but a malcontent who knows how to spell.’

It was a shrewd piece of literary criticism. Despite periodic attempts to wring his works for a few drops of humanism, De Sade’s stock of characters and events was as thin as a pencil. Calling these ‘tales’ is a blunder. A tale has a start, a middle, and an end. Sade’s fictions in general - and ‘Eugenie De Franval’ and ‘Florville and Courval’ in particular - aren’t stories. They’re a string of lectures, seemingly written in starch instead of ink:

‘I am not unaware, madame, that the pretexts for your scene were the odious suspicions that your dare to form about me, but fantasies do not justify crimes; what you thought is false, but what you have done is unfortunately only too real. You are surprised at the reproaches that my daughter addressed to you concerning your irregular conduct only after the whole of Paris has done so; this state of affairs is so well known ... the proofs are unfortunately so consistent, that those who speak about it are guilty at the most of imprudence but not of calumny.’

Marquis de Sade's Gothic Tales is a collection that explores the depths of human depravity and the complexities of desire. With a reputation for pushing boundaries, de Sade's writings delve into the darkest recesses of the human psyche, challenging societal norms and unveiling uncomfortable truths about our nature. These gothic stories are a tapestry of devious fantasies and daring liaisons. Each tale unravels the transgressive desires of unforgettable characters, exposing the raw emotions and primal impulses that drive human behavior. From incest to adultery, no taboo is spared as the boundaries between good and evil blur. Beyond their erotic nature, de Sade's stories also tackle Enlightenment philosophy. They serve as a sharp critique of the hypocrisy and repression prevalent in Pre-revolutionary France. De Sade challenges the moral code of his time, unveiling the hidden vices and debauchery that lurk beneath the surface of society. For decades, de Sade was condemned by Parisian society and imprisoned for his writings. His work became so notorious that his name was deemed unmentionable in respectable circles. However, his ideas and artistic vision have endured the test of time, remaining as relevant to our society as they were to his own. Gothic Tales is a challenging and unsettling read. It confronts us with the darkness within ourselves, forcing us to confront our own desires and the limits of our morality. While it may not be suitable for all readers, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a controversial writer who dared to push the boundaries of human understanding. These stories delve into the darkest depths of human nature, revealing uncomfortable truths about our desires, societal hypocrisy, and the fragility of our moral code. While not for the faint of heart, they offer a provocative and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.

il marchese de sade è uno scrittore molto particolare, le sue opere particolarmente disturbanti ed erotiche spesso incantano e disgustano. Ho chiesto questo arc più che per conoscere l'autore ma per vedere le edizioni di un autore che non vedo molto chiacchierato in Italia. nulla da dire, racconti molto belli ed edizione meravigliosa!

Beautifully haunting stories.

Marquis de Sade has always been a spectacular creator, this is truly no exception.

If you're looking for a set of short stories that will send a shiver down you spine, that are expanded on their original publication (due to findings since), this is for you.

This was an interesting read! I had never heard of Marquis De Sade and this was a good introduction to their work.

This was my first time reading anything by Sade and I actually really enjoyed it! I feel like the introduction really explained everything well; I knew what I was getting into. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised as well. I noticed someone else had mentioned in another review how Sade’s tales reminded them of Aesop’s Fables, but for adults and I absolutely agree! If you enjoy the weirder side of things, stories with underlying meaning, and older stories with themes that still hold true today, then I recommend delving into some Sade. I know I’ll be checking out more of his work for sure.

This is an interesting collection of 8 stories by the Maquis de Sade. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

A surprisingly enjoyable collection of stories! de Sade wrote in a very eloquent way which makes the shocking things he wrote about seem more despicable but this collection of stories is quite tame in comparison to his other, more famous works. It's a shame that the internet exposes people to so many horrific things because it does take some of the shock factor out of these stories.

Once you look past the more depraved stuff, de Sade's commentary on religion, social structures and the position of women in society is really interesting and I found it surprising how many parallels I could see between his writing from the 1700/1800's and the modern day.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this collection

Uncomfortable: that’s how I usually feel when I read De Sade, and this collection of short stories is not an exception.
However, I’ve read ever more disturbing works from the infamous marquis, so I can’t recriminate and, in the end, I can say that I quite enjoy the reading.
Even if it’s not for everyone, I can recommend it to these who enjoy dark erotica, but they have to remember that’s not what we mark as dark erotica nowadays.

A charming collection - a republished set of stories curated and translated by Margaret Crosland - that kept me entertained from start to finish. I think these are ultimately lesser de Sade (would anyone contend otherwise) but there’s so much humor and pathos even in this brief sojourn into the Marquis’ slightly less perverse territory. These are juicy tales nonetheless - perhaps less erotic than reader expectations may portend - but worthwhile in the man’s body of work nonetheless.

If anything I wish there had been more supplementary material - I would’ve happily read more criticism and context, either recycled writings by Crosland or new works by contemporary writers, in the vein of other recent republications. As is, this is the right length, and a lovely new collection for a new generation who aren’t quite in the mood for <i>Justine</i> or <i>Sodom</i>, which is certainly reasonable.

Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Going into this book without knowing much about Marquis de Sade, it was an interesting way to explore his writing, the contents, and how he explored various concepts like morality, sexual desires, human nature, and philosophies.

The first story, Eugenie de Franval, was the longest of the eight short stories, about 40% of the book, followed by others of various stories. They explore similar concepts through 18th-century writing.

It was interesting to read this and then research about him afterward. I would suggest it, but please know that it can be triggering.

I had never read Marquis de Sade before, so I jumped on this, but it turns out, it wasn't for me. I didn't mind the subject matter, I just didn't like the writing style and I just wasn't interested enough to be engaged with this. There are 8 stories, which offers a good variety, and the cover is simply beautiful, so I suggest giving this a try if you're curious and you think the dark themes are something you can handle.