Fascinating literary history. It's so interesting to me how feminist lit crit treats erotica, especially BDSM which is so steeped in radical consent. I make reference to the Story of O in my novel, but I wonder if many younger readers of dark romance know it. I don't like the dubcon trend, but I try to understand it.
Terrific post. As a psychologist trained in the early years of sex therapy, of course I read The Story of O, but I don't think I ever really knew the story of its author. Compare her literary chops to the sloppy prose of Fifty Shades of Gray! O my inner goddess!
I wondered how you would handle the ‘It’s exploitive/ it’s sexual freedom” fight, acknowledging the camps and calling them both valid is I think, the best possible answer. Interesting that it couldn’t be sold to minors until 1967, today it would almost qualify for YA.
I'm so pleased you included Anne Desclos (Pauline!), in your series. What strength she held, to write like that, and to own such writing, even if not publicly.
My erotic novel, PHI, was written straight after I read Histoire d'O for the first time - I was also on a bet, and reading sexy novels to figure out how they were done. Her writing feels like one of those alabaster eggs, pressed against my mouth. It’s so smooth and cold.
O knocked me for six, she was so unashamed of her subjugation, which gave her the power, after all, even with her body ruined. My novel - PHI - was a direct response to O. Instead of the men's villa, I wanted a women's manor, and I wanted my protagonist (Six, bless him), to beat the Sisters with his enduring belief in love.
I even had a pseudonym for the novel, all ready (William! A character from the next novel I wrote).
Anyway, I feel I owe Anne Desclos, hugely. I don’t find O sexy, and neither does my body, duplicitously, behind my back, but I do find it fascinating. The imprint of that prose is still on my skin. She was an extraordinary writer.
There is something about the extravagant vagaries of a woman’s sexual behavior that is triggering. I think the conversation always says more about the reader than the writer.
Fascinating literary history. It's so interesting to me how feminist lit crit treats erotica, especially BDSM which is so steeped in radical consent. I make reference to the Story of O in my novel, but I wonder if many younger readers of dark romance know it. I don't like the dubcon trend, but I try to understand it.
Terrific post. As a psychologist trained in the early years of sex therapy, of course I read The Story of O, but I don't think I ever really knew the story of its author. Compare her literary chops to the sloppy prose of Fifty Shades of Gray! O my inner goddess!
I wondered how you would handle the ‘It’s exploitive/ it’s sexual freedom” fight, acknowledging the camps and calling them both valid is I think, the best possible answer. Interesting that it couldn’t be sold to minors until 1967, today it would almost qualify for YA.
I'm so pleased you included Anne Desclos (Pauline!), in your series. What strength she held, to write like that, and to own such writing, even if not publicly.
My erotic novel, PHI, was written straight after I read Histoire d'O for the first time - I was also on a bet, and reading sexy novels to figure out how they were done. Her writing feels like one of those alabaster eggs, pressed against my mouth. It’s so smooth and cold.
O knocked me for six, she was so unashamed of her subjugation, which gave her the power, after all, even with her body ruined. My novel - PHI - was a direct response to O. Instead of the men's villa, I wanted a women's manor, and I wanted my protagonist (Six, bless him), to beat the Sisters with his enduring belief in love.
I even had a pseudonym for the novel, all ready (William! A character from the next novel I wrote).
Anyway, I feel I owe Anne Desclos, hugely. I don’t find O sexy, and neither does my body, duplicitously, behind my back, but I do find it fascinating. The imprint of that prose is still on my skin. She was an extraordinary writer.
There is something about the extravagant vagaries of a woman’s sexual behavior that is triggering. I think the conversation always says more about the reader than the writer.
It’s stunning that those who knew kept her secret for so many years. Those are some trustworthy cohorts.
This is not a discipline I would have.
Definitely not for you!
This is so relevant, especially given the political climate we are now living in.