Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos

Les Liaisons Dangereuses cover

Again I have to thank The Classics Circuit for introducing me to this book and French Literature in general. I would never have chosen this book to read had it not been for the CC and its participants.

The fact that this is an epistolary book was a bit off-putting to me but I didn’t have any problems with it at all. I was lucky enough to have the time to read the book in four days so it may have been more confusing if I had been picking it up and putting it down for weeks on end.

It was first published in Paris in 1782 and was regarded as outrageous, consequently it sold out within a few days.

It’s the story of two French aristocrats, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, who use and manipulate the lives of their supposed friends, young and old. In the course of entertaining themselves in this way they cause mayhem in the lives of all concerned.

The main female character, the Marquise de Merteuil is portrayed as being the most dangerous of the pair, positively poisonous. Plus ҫa change – as they say!

Anyway, I enjoyed it and I’m hoping to be able to see the film soon, which has Colin Firth playing the part of Valmont. I’m wondering how I’ve managed to miss seeing it!

5 thoughts on “Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos

  1. Did you learn about it through the April in Paris circuit? I only remember Zola and Dumas — did I miss something? I have been so out of the loop lately. This is on my to-read list also, I have read so little French lit.

    • Karen,
      I could have sworn that I saw a review on The Classics Circuit but I can’t find it now. More recently of course it was Stefanie who recommended it. I haven’t read much in the way of French lit either but I have a few in my TBR pile which is growing at a scary rate.

  2. Pingback: New Classics Club list | Pining for the West

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