Severin is so infatuated with Wanda that he requests to be treated as her slave and encourages her to treat him in progressively more degrading ways. At first Wanda does not want to, but later embraces the idea; though at the same time, she disdains Severin for allowing her to do so. Severin describes his feelings during these experiences as suprasensuality. Wanda treats him brutally as a servant, and recruits a trio of African women to dominate him. The relationship arrives at a crisis point when Wanda herself meets a man to whom she would like to submit. Severin, humiliated by Wanda's new lover, ceases to desire to submit, stating that men should dominate women until the time when women are equal to men in education and rights. Probably the first book which blatantly addresses the issue of female sexual domination, this is today a classic of the genre and it is the author from whom the word masochism takes its name.
Venus in Furs
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About the Author
Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch was an Austrian writer of fiction and short stories, who inspired the clinical category of ‘masochism’. His complex sexual fantasies, involving the love of pain and submission, ignited a once secretive pursuit into that of a recognised fetish. His masterpiece inspired a famous song of the same name by The Velvet Underground, and continues to be referred to as a defining work within the realm of erotic literature.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Those interested in abnormal psychology will find this a "must" book. It is a tribute to the open-mindedness of modern publishing that such an extreme text which was for so long out of print and unavailable in English, is here offered to the reader at a knock-down price. Even the most casual reader cannot avoid being at once fascinated and repelled by the graphic descriptions of morbid yearnings never satisfied despite beatings, humiliations and tortures to soul and body. The painting about which Sacher-Masoch dreamed so vividly and to which frequent reference is made throughout the text is officially titled "Venus with a Mirror" by Titian, and perhaps it would have been preferable if the front cover image more nearly reflected this source of the author's inspiration. Might I suggest that the prospective book-buyer would be well advised to read in addition or instead, the arguably more accomplished books by Madame de Morville, titled La Dominatrice, Slaves of Isis, and The Chateau, to name but three.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Lady Lycan
Format:Paperback
Its difficult to truly describe a book such as this. I originally wanted to read it after learning that we get the word masochism from the author's name, being a creature of research I also purchased the complete works of the Marquis de Sade but that's a review for another time. I fell in love with this book, when early on I came upon this quote,
"Love knows no virtue, no profit; it loves and forgives and suffers everything, because it must. It is not our judgment that leads us; it is neither the advantages nor the faults which we discover that make us abandon ourselves or that repel us.
It is a sweet, soft, enigmatic power that drives us on. We cease to think, to feel, to will; we let ourselves be carried away by it, and ask not whither."
Utterly beautifully put. The main character Severin (heavily influenced from the authors own life) can become annoying with his devotion at time, but I look upon him with the eyes of a Mistress and not as someone that feels his plight. I also recommend listening to "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground, also Dave Navarro does a great cover version.
"Love knows no virtue, no profit; it loves and forgives and suffers everything, because it must. It is not our judgment that leads us; it is neither the advantages nor the faults which we discover that make us abandon ourselves or that repel us.
It is a sweet, soft, enigmatic power that drives us on. We cease to think, to feel, to will; we let ourselves be carried away by it, and ask not whither."
Utterly beautifully put. The main character Severin (heavily influenced from the authors own life) can become annoying with his devotion at time, but I look upon him with the eyes of a Mistress and not as someone that feels his plight. I also recommend listening to "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground, also Dave Navarro does a great cover version.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Chris Chalk
Format:Paperback
This 19th Century classic seems to be considered the beginning of sexual exploration within the mainstream, indeed it is considered that its author Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch gave his name to masochism (although not consciously).
The story is told through a journal of one man: Severin von Kusiemski, a man of good standing within the community but who harbours a deep routed desire to become the slave of a goddess wearing fur. His choice coining her the Venus in Furs is no coincidence for he worships at statues of Venus herself and when he stumbles upon Wanda von Dunajew he feels his search is at an end.
Wanda is for me the far more fascinating of the two characters and arguable would have been a far more interesting character to use as the point of view for this novel. She has depth through the need to explore a chilling dark side that before Severin she was unaware of but you get the feeling that whole time this dark side is a façade, a front that doesn't truly exist and in fact it is her submitting to Severin in her quest to make him happy. This paradox explodes wonderfully towards the end of the book and (for me) you truly see how unprepared Severin is for the path he has chosen, Wanda concocts one last punishment for Severin but again you can clearly see the great love that has gone into doing just that - a women unhappy in her role but seemingly unwilling not to continue for fear of losing the man she loves, until finally he pushes her too far.
I felt the pace of the book was off, we fall far too quickly into the depraved relationship without enough of the build up work, it's like passing your driving test and hoping into a Ferrari - no satisfaction if you can't prang the Metro first. I also felt that oddly the writing of Severin to be a little stunted as well, if you consider this to be deliberate to show how the author feels so much more for Wanda than for himself it can be explained but even so it can be a little disappointing.
I can honestly say I truly enjoyed this novel and not just for the historically significance of the work, but for the tenderness and care that Sacher-Masoch (some what clumsily at times) attempts to instil in the relationship between the books two chief protagonists. Could it have been better? Absolutely. Are today's books on the same subject far more graphic? I would imagine so. Is this worth the read? Definitely, I doubt many works of this subject matter could come close to Sacher-Masoch's work, no matter how rough round the edges it may be.
The story is told through a journal of one man: Severin von Kusiemski, a man of good standing within the community but who harbours a deep routed desire to become the slave of a goddess wearing fur. His choice coining her the Venus in Furs is no coincidence for he worships at statues of Venus herself and when he stumbles upon Wanda von Dunajew he feels his search is at an end.
Wanda is for me the far more fascinating of the two characters and arguable would have been a far more interesting character to use as the point of view for this novel. She has depth through the need to explore a chilling dark side that before Severin she was unaware of but you get the feeling that whole time this dark side is a façade, a front that doesn't truly exist and in fact it is her submitting to Severin in her quest to make him happy. This paradox explodes wonderfully towards the end of the book and (for me) you truly see how unprepared Severin is for the path he has chosen, Wanda concocts one last punishment for Severin but again you can clearly see the great love that has gone into doing just that - a women unhappy in her role but seemingly unwilling not to continue for fear of losing the man she loves, until finally he pushes her too far.
I felt the pace of the book was off, we fall far too quickly into the depraved relationship without enough of the build up work, it's like passing your driving test and hoping into a Ferrari - no satisfaction if you can't prang the Metro first. I also felt that oddly the writing of Severin to be a little stunted as well, if you consider this to be deliberate to show how the author feels so much more for Wanda than for himself it can be explained but even so it can be a little disappointing.
I can honestly say I truly enjoyed this novel and not just for the historically significance of the work, but for the tenderness and care that Sacher-Masoch (some what clumsily at times) attempts to instil in the relationship between the books two chief protagonists. Could it have been better? Absolutely. Are today's books on the same subject far more graphic? I would imagine so. Is this worth the read? Definitely, I doubt many works of this subject matter could come close to Sacher-Masoch's work, no matter how rough round the edges it may be.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Good read, it's free and I would recommend for some of my friends who enjoy this kind of thing. I'm still halfway throught the book and haven't noticed much typos etc.
Published 1 month ago by Jen
3.0 out of 5 stars
Venus In Furs
Well written, not especially erotic. I was more interested in the author's biography.
Colin Parrish (Author - 'RaLph - A Demon's Story').
Colin Parrish (Author - 'RaLph - A Demon's Story').
Published 4 months ago by Colin Parrish
4.0 out of 5 stars
The archetype of masochism: defining or misleading?
For generations of readers and thinkers, Sacher-Masoch's novel (1870) has defined the archetype of masochism. Read more
Published 11 months ago by stephen paine colors of passion
3.0 out of 5 stars
Did not live up to my high hopes!
I'm choosey about any erotica and had heard great things about this book. Whilst of interest to an erotica lover and interesting to dip into, I was disappointed and found the book... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Newlymarriedmiss
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay as an amuse-bouche
I have not yet met a man who wants me to put on ermine and trample his supine body but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to give it a try. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Vanessa Wu
4.0 out of 5 stars
The start of a genre....
You can guess the subject matter from the authors name, Masoch. Of course the masochism is not as explicit as one might expect due to the times it was written, but the... Read more
Published on 25 April 2008 by grr
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mediocre literature
For those who wish to become possessed with the parodies and ironies involved in eighteenth century literature, this book is sure to stun. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2007 by Ian Caithness
4.0 out of 5 stars
'If you can't be a decent, faithful wife, then be a devil'
'Venus in Furs' is the story of Severin von Kusiemski, a young man who falls passionately in love (or lust?, you decide) with a flame-haired beauty called Wanda von Dunajew. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2007 by Sarah Durston
3.0 out of 5 stars
More difficult then erotic
Mid nineteenth century erotic literature. Know your classics, his surname gives it away. The man who gave masochism it's name. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2003 by Gerben Kappert
4.0 out of 5 stars
derivation of the term "masochism"
_Venus in Furs, a Novel: Letters of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch and Emilie Mataja_ by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch contains the both the story "Venus in Furs" and a selection... Read more
Published on 25 July 1997
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