One of the most famous frank novels of the frivolous 18th century, Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue, was published in 1797 without indicating the name of the author - the Marquis de Sade, a man who proclaimed the cult of pleasure on the eve of formidable social storms.

< p>“It’s a scandalous book, because it’s not really possible to get close to it, and no one is able to make it public. But also a book that also shows that there is no scandal without respect, and that where the scandal is extreme, respect is utmost. Who is more respected than de Sade? Even today, whoever does not piously believe that it is enough for him to hold this damned creation in his hands for Rousseau’s proud statement to come true: “Every girl who reads one single page from this book will be doomed.” For literature and civilization, such respect is, of course, a treasure. Therefore, one cannot resist a modestly clear command to all current and future publishers and commentators: respect in de Sade at least his scandalousness!”

Maurice Blanchot about the novel by the Marquis de Sade “Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue”

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