Marquis de Sade: The Genius of Passion

Like most people, I knew that Marquis de Sade was the inspiration for the word 'sadism'. I also knew that he had written books noted for their explicit descriptions of sex, rape and torture. This was just one aspect of his character, however, and this book exposes us to others. Though he subscribed to and, in many cases, practiced the libertine philosophy, this was by no means unique or even unusual for the nobility of the eighteenth century. Sade spent much of his life in prison, not because of these practices (though this was the excuse given) but rather, due to the political maneuvering of his mother-in-law. Though I find Sade's view of life distasteful, if not sickening, I understand how he came upon it and, at times, I even pity him. Hayman's book is not always a pleasant read, but it is an informative one.