Philosophy in the Boudoir, or Immoral Teachers

Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) was a man who denied all accepted norms, whether they be religious, moral, or legal. He extolled personal freedom and placed pleasure at the core of everything that the world could offer him. In his works, he translates such a lifestyle onto his characters. They are immoral, idle, and disregard commonly accepted rules of etiquette. Most of the texts by this classic of French literature were written in prison, which somewhat reconciles the European cultural community with his works and free views, serving as a kind of Lord's Smile over the fate of man. In 'Philosophy in the Bedroom,' a young girl is taught how to live correctly. All the advice she receives comes from hardened nihilists, atheists, and libertines, mired in the horrors of the dark side of human life. The primary task of women is to please men, sodomy is the norm, and religion is equated with filth. In general, the book contains everything that a "good mother" would advise her young daughter to cultivate her into a true woman of all ages.