Don't know what I was expecting from a book written in 1870 about women. It reads like an ancient MRA propaganda novel.

at times i could feel masoch's boner poking me ( )

It's ironic that I chose this book to fulfill the category A Book By An Author You’ve Never Read Before. While I had not even heard of the author, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, I knew about the sexual disorder bearing his name. I just didn't make the connection until after reading the book.

Venus in Furs begins with an unnamed narrator relating his dream of speaking to the goddess Venus while she is dressed in furs. The friend he shares his dream with, Severin, gives him a manuscript, Confessions of a Supersensual Man, in return. Consistent with masochistic behavior, the manuscript relates Severin's voluntary debasement as a slave to Wanda, the woman he wishes to marry. Had the book been published in modern times, rather than 1870, Severin's humiliation would have been described in much more graphic terms, but any reader with an imagination can picture what he went through.

Venus in Furs was intended to be part of a larger narrative. Reading it as a stand-alone novel focuses all attention on its masochistic aspects, and I wonder whether only prurient curiosity keeps it in circulation today. It is neither a particularly well-written nor engaging book. Severin is an unsympathetic character; Wanda is cruel and ultimately detestable. Their relationship grows tiresome, especially the repetitious self-abasement, and the ending feels artificial, as though more concerned with social acceptance than artistic integrity. Yet the book was made into half-a-dozen movies and a couple plays. Two bands, including The Velvet Underground, wrote songs about it. So it has certainly made a cultural impact, however limited in scope.

As a portrayal of the power dynamics between a certain type of man and woman, it's mildly thought-provoking and insightful. Were it a longer book or one that required closer reading, I would advise passing. Although I haven't read anything that deals with masochism, modern novels probably deal with it in a more sophisticated manner. ( )

Não posso dizer que não é divertido, a história de sentimentos complexos, hesitantes e idealistas de um jovem romântico e sua vontade de controlar a sua submissão, de planejar sua perda de controle e de educar aquela que será sua senhora para que ele possa, em toda o esplendor se submeter. Mas como tudo isso é romântico ao extremo, há algo que falta, e que sobra a Sade, por exemplo. Uma clareza de alma, lá muito gélida, é verdade. ( )

After reading Fanny Hill and Marquis de Sade, it only made sense to read this novella.

For erotica, Venus in Furs is actually well thought out and written. Yes, this about whips and things that are kinky, but it’s also about the human psyche and mythology. There’s some great character development and conflict in this novella.

Each of the main characters represent something either dealing with the human mind or mythology. You have Wanda (the title character) that represents power and Venus and Severin (the narrator) who is represents obedience and Dionysus. Later on, there is a Greek man that joins the party, but I won’t explain his part because of spoilers.

The main plot of the story is Severin is obsessed with finding his Venus in Furs. He finds Wanda who looks like the goddess, but she is a dominatrix. She wants Severin as a sexual slave than a lover. He starts obeying his mistress until a Greek named Alexis (they call him Apollo) joins in on the fun. Then the conflict and the real drama of the book starts.

I love the use of mythology. It’s not that hard to turn gods into sex allegories. In many ways, Severin is Faust trying to bring Helen back from the dead to have sex with her, except Severin is trying to make his dream of Venus in Furs a reality. There’s a bit of Fraud and Jung going on in this novella. Maybe you can see some of Wonder Woman in this book as well. If you don’t mind sexual domination mixed with mythology this book’s a great read. ( )