L'Anti-Justine; ou, Les Delices de l'amour

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Restif de La Bretonne, 1734-1806

Language:

French

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"L'Anti-Justine; ou, Les Délices de l'amour" by Restif de La Bretonne is an erotic novel written in the late 18th century. The book presents a response to the infamous works of the libertine author Marquis de Sade, aiming to offer a more pleasurable and less cruel depiction of love and sexuality. Through its provocative narrative, the work explores themes of libertinage, desire, and the complexities of human relationships, particularly emphasizing a more positive and fulfilling view of erotic experiences. At the start of the novel, the narrator, Jean-Pierre Linguet, expresses his indignation over the works of Sade, particularly "Justine," which he finds deeply disturbing due to its portrayal of suffering connected to love. He sets out to create a counter-narrative, one that brings forth joyful and affectionate encounters, specifically highlighting the beauty of women and love devoid of pain. The opening portions introduce the character Cupidonnet, who recounts his early encounters with girls, brimming with youthful curiosity and desires that blend innocence with burgeoning sexuality, casting the stage for a series of explicit and provocative escapades that critique the darker elements of erotic literature of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Daniel Fromont

Notes:

Reading ease score: 83.4 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Anti-Justine

Release date is 2008-10-07