Les Liaisons Dangereuses: or Letters Collected in a Private Society and Published for the Instruction of OthersDaring, original, and highly erotic, this famous French epistolary novel explores the moral ambiguities of love and revenge. Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) created a succès de scandale upon its 1782 publication. More than two centuries later, this dark tale of calculating seduction and betrayal retains its grip on the popular imagination, thanks in part to its adaptations for stage and screen. Set in the final days of the ancien régime, Les Liaisons offers a revealing portrait of decadence among the French aristocracy on the eve of the Revolution. Its series of intimate letters chronicles the amorous adventures of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont. Clever, wealthy, and bored, they amuse themselves by devising a game that uses sex to humiliate other members of their social circle. No winners emerge from their battles, in which the innocent suffer alongside the guilty. |
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Common terms and phrases
able Adieu adore adventure afraid already assure believe cause Cécile Volanges charm Château Chevalier Danceny confess confidence consent consolation cruel dangerous dare daughter dear friend desire despair doubt doubtless everything eyes fear feel forget friendship Gercourt give grieved happiness heart honor hope idea indulgence least leave less letter libertine little Volanges longer lovely friend lover Madame de Merteuil Madame de Rosemonde Madame de Tourvel Madame de Volanges Mademoiselle de Volanges Mamma Marquise de Merteuil marriage misfortune mistress Monsieur morning mother never nonetheless o'clock occupy once pain Paris Père Anselme perhaps pity pleasure present Présidente de Tourvel Prévan promise reason receive refuse regret reply reproach sacrifice seems sentiment soon sorrow soul speak sure sweet tears tell tender thought told truth unhappy Vicomte de Valmont virtue waiting maid wish woman women word write yesterday