Known to history as "the Divine Marquis" (the Surrealists) and "that monster author" (Napoleon) because of the daring originality and scandalous nature of his writing, the Marquis de Sade also possessed a dark sense of humor, which prevails in this collection.
The volume contains the title novella, in which Sade uses his pen to avenge the wrongs visited upon him throughout his tumultuous life by the French judicial system; two full-length tales, "Augustine de Villeblanche" and "Emilie de Tourville"; and ten of Sade's shorter stories. Many of Sade's favorite themes are present here: the hypocrisy and stupidity of blind justice, the duplicity and dishonesty of the clergy, the corruption of the court, jealousy, revenge, and retribution. Yet throughout, these tales are infused with a light touch and mordant wit, "well within the boundaries of modesty and decency," as Sade himself noted, albeit "sometimes a trifle bawdy." These tales constitute a portion of his "regular writings," which he hoped would enhance his reputation as a storyteller of wit and charm, a latter-day Boccaccio. Through them he felt that he would take his rightful place in the world of letters.
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