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A review by raincorbyn
The Marquis de Sade: A New Biography by Tony Thomas, Donald Thomas
4.0
Sade's life and legacy are more interesting to me than his writing, and this great biography was a more valuable experience to me than any of MdS's books.
Thomas makes a strong case for Sade's notoriety being mostly a result of his making political enemies who used accusations of obscenity, blasphemy, and later of counter-revolutionary activity, to bury him. Sade as a character is incredible, Sade as a satirist, I find mediocre and often funny, never for the right reasons.
I would have loved more on the legacy of Sadism in psychology, art, sexuality, and general pop culture, but that's probably beyond the scope of even a great biography. I can safely say that one can read this book instead of any actual Sade, and glean all the best parts.
Thomas makes a strong case for Sade's notoriety being mostly a result of his making political enemies who used accusations of obscenity, blasphemy, and later of counter-revolutionary activity, to bury him. Sade as a character is incredible, Sade as a satirist, I find mediocre and often funny, never for the right reasons.
I would have loved more on the legacy of Sadism in psychology, art, sexuality, and general pop culture, but that's probably beyond the scope of even a great biography. I can safely say that one can read this book instead of any actual Sade, and glean all the best parts.