Philosophy of the Boudoir Or, the Immoral Mentors

This most joyous of de Sade's works follows three aristocrats as they indoctrinate Eugenie de Mistival in "the principles of the most outrageous libertinism."

Reviewer from the Penguin UK site: Amy Britton

'The Marquis De Sade is my favourite writer. It is testament to the lasting power of his ability to shock that this still draws a reaction whenever I divulge this information to people. For the unititiated De Sade reader, Philosophy in the Boudoir is an excellent, ideal introduction. Part of the set of four known as the "libertine novels", which also covers Juliette, Justine and 120 Days of Sodom, "Philosophy in the Boudoir" is frequently described as the least cruel of the libertine novels. Thats not to say that there is not plenty to shock the easily offended here, with obscenity laws meaning ithas never actually been staged. The plot is very basic as it follows a girl coming of age undertaking the sexual guidance of the licentious Madame Saint Ange, but it is not the plot which is important but its striaghtforward descriptions of how good sex works - it is as much a factual manual as a piece of drama at times. I will not describe the climax of the play as it would spoil it (and also perhaps be seen as to graphic to print), but is frequently described as "tragicomic" and is quite shocking, but this is still perhaps the most accessible of the libertine novels and a highly recommended introduction.'