Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
"Dangerous Liaisons" - 1782
#6Degrees is a monthly link-up hosted by Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best. I love the idea. Thank you, Kate. See more about this challenge, its history, further books and how I found this here.
The starter book this month is Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. I had never heard of him, even though I love classics. So, I have not read the book.
Here is a description:
"Published just years before the French Revolution, Laclos's great novel of moral and emotional depravity is a disturbing and ultimately damning portrayal of a decadent society. Aristocrats and ex-lovers Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont embark on a sophisticated game of seduction and manipulation to bring amusement to their jaded lives. While Merteuil challenges Valmont to seduce an innocent convent girl, he is also occupied with the conquest of a virtuous married woman. Eventually their human pawns respond, and the consequences prove to be more serious—and deadly—than the players could have ever predicted."
Here is a description:
"Published just years before the French Revolution, Laclos's great novel of moral and emotional depravity is a disturbing and ultimately damning portrayal of a decadent society. Aristocrats and ex-lovers Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont embark on a sophisticated game of seduction and manipulation to bring amusement to their jaded lives. While Merteuil challenges Valmont to seduce an innocent convent girl, he is also occupied with the conquest of a virtuous married woman. Eventually their human pawns respond, and the consequences prove to be more serious—and deadly—than the players could have ever predicted."
But, as I have read many classics, I thought I'll start with the one from one of the following years and carry on like that.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (Goethe German) "Iphigenia in Tauris" (GE: Iphigenie auf Tauris) - 1787
Austen, Jane "Lady Susan" - 1795
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (Goethe German) "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship" (GE: Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre) - 1795/96
Staël, Anne-Louise-Germaine de "Corinne: Or Italy" (F: Corinne ou l'Italie) - 1807
We always try to find a connection between the first and the last degree. This time, the books are both in French.
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I haven't read any of these, but it's always interesting to see the different directions people take with this challenge. I'd love to be able to read in different languages as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrew. That's what I love about it, as well, and why I do it. Even my own chains often lead me somewhere I didn't expect.
DeleteYears ago I tried to read Lady Susan but the Gutenberg file I got was really hard to read so I gave up. I've put it on my Classics Club Spin list because now I have a print version. I've also never read The Watsons, but I did read Sanditon, which would probably have been her best novel, if she'd lived long enough to finish it.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand about the Gutenberg file, Davida. I've had that problem with online books which I try to avoid. Both these books are unfinished, of course, so not as great as her other novels.
DeleteAs a Jane Austen fan, you'd have thought I would have read these more minor works, but I haven't. It goes without saying that I haven''t read the German classics. A clever, thoughtful chain.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. As you know, I usually go by words in the titles but I had neither dangerous nor liaisons in any of my books. Or another author that shares a name with this one. But I love classics, so I went from there.
DeleteIt's a shame Jane Austen didn't live long enough to finish these novels but it can't be helped. I still had to (!) read them. It's interesting, as you can try to imagine where she would have gone with that, she even had hinted to her sister about her intentions.
I was really disappointed by Sanditon. It seemed bereft of her gentle wit. I expect to see a lot of her other unfinished works this year, because what else can be 'new' in her anniversary year, but they are unlikely to tempt me.
ReplyDeleteThose started novels are all far too short, Lisa. I am sure she would have included more of herself in the books, would she have been able to finish them. I even started watching the series Sandition but I couldn't see anything of Jane in there, even though I really like most of the actors.
DeleteNeat idea. I haven't read Corinne!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emma. We always have to come up with new ones, don't we?
DeleteI believe I have read Lady Susan but I have a stronger memory of a delightful movie!
ReplyDeleteMovie? I will have to check that out, Constance. Thanks for that.
DeleteVery interesting chain! Good work!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa. I had to go that way. It was the easiest. LOL
DeleteI saw the movie of Lady Susan but haven't read it! In fact, I haven't read a few of Jane Austens books, but I am trying to rectify that now!
ReplyDeleteIt's the perfect year for it, Marg. And there are so many people right now who re-read them, so you can have a lot of talks about her literature.
DeleteGreat post ... I like your chronological linking of classics. Interestingly my first link was to Lady Susan - as an epistolary novel - and then to another even older book Maria Edgeworth's Leonora, because it was about a coquette. Anyhow, I've read lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon, so will check out the posts you've linked here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue. Why didn't I think of that? I'll have to go and see your post.
DeleteI often use the words in the title. Not because I can't find a similar book but because it leads to so many different novels. However, I also love classics, so I thought I'll do that this time.
That’s a good point re title leading to different books. I tend ti avoid title links but I slso try not to do too many subject matter links too because they can corner you as you’ve clearly guessed.
ReplyDeleteI guess we all have different preferences, Sue, and that makes it so interesting. We all end up somewhere else that way. Looking at other lists is even more exciting than making your own.
DeleteForgot to sign in … but you can guess the above anonymous was me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue. I often have the problem that they won't let me sign in and not publish the comment, then I have to use another provider. It's so annoying.
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