Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch

Since we have a thread on Sade I thought we should talk about Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.

I have only read Venus in Furs. Unlike Sade's example of Sadism I found it amazingly typical of male Masochism. Not his fetish for fur but his general way of talking about his desires. I find that male masochists still talk that way even thought they have not read his work.

Tried reading it but gave up after a few pages. So I can hardly comment

I've read extracts, which seemed interesting and well written, if very much of it's time. I think he captured a side of male sexuality that had never been written about before. His Wikipedia entry makes interesting reading. He wrote an awful lot more than just Venus in Furs - anyone read any of his other work?

There is also 'The Confessions' of Wanda von Sacher-Masoch his ex-wife, which ReSearch put out in English as a large format soft-cover years ago.

Sacher-Masoch's stuff is seminal for his particular quirk, but I think it needs to be seen within the context of other dominant-female/submissive-male literature. There are some gems, such as 'The English Governess' (two versions), 'The Petticoat Dominant' and 'Frederique', amongst others.

The current state of history has done disservice to both Sacher-Masoch and de Sade, in making them icons. I feel that eventually the works of both will be seen more rationally as part of that part of human sexuality within which the imagination of some individuals needs stimulus in parts which current propriety feels it ought to conceal.

I find it a fascinating subject! Don't know why. Beats me!

I read the Confessions of Wanda von Sacher-Masoch and it certainly put me off reading his work altogether. Talk about topping from the bottom!