This book's primary thesis is that the Marquis De Sade is the father of modern feminism. For the uninitiated, De Sade's works are infamous for their depictions of sexual humiliation and cruelty. We get the term 'sadism' from the sex practices he represented.

Against all expectation, Carter supports her thesis in a way that is lucid, reasonable, insightful, and even amusing. It seems there is something for women in Donatien's mad sensual rebellion, after all.

I have struggled for some time in trying to review this book, simply because it is still beyond me how anyone could be so smart and talented a writer to propose something so outlandish, and then to make it seem the most natural thing in the world.

Carter's observations on sexuality, gender, and pornography are as remarkable as Foucault's, with none of the meandering semiotics. Her ability to say precisely what she means, both evocatively and concisely never ceased to impress me.

She also suggests that many commonly accepted aspects of feminism are not only narrow-minded, but counterproductive. For instance: she presents how the popular 'mother goddess' figure is just another way to entrap women into the role of 'baby factory'; it even makes them proud of their one-dimensional existence. Of course, she says it better than I am capable of.

This book was roundly and vehemently criticized by high-ranking feminists when it was published. They could see no way that their plight could possibly be illuminated in the works of any man, let alone a man possessed of a perverse and dehumanizing sexuality.

They were uninterested in looking for a commonality with someone they were so clearly superior to. Contrarily, I would suggest that the more we can connect ourselves to those we instinctively draw away from, the more we will understand about being human.

How can a movement seek to move beyond mere gender definition and call itself 'feminism'? Would we call a movement to erase the delineation between rich and poor 'povertism'?

If the goal of feminism is to remove the discrepancies and prejudices between the sexes, why not name the philosophy after the goal instead of the conflict? 'Humanism' always sounded good to me. ( )

Really fantastic. An engaging look at female sexuality and power through the eyes of one of Britain's best novelists and one of France's most notorious libertines.

Unlike some theory, Carter's The Sadeian Woman, is a mostly accessible, yet insightful, read. Glue a highlighter to your palm as you read... there is plenty of worthwhile stuff in here, folks. ( )