Les Liaisons Dangereuses
by Christopher Hampton
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The scandalous reputation of Laclos's novel, first published in 1782, is based on its chilling portrayal of the mannered decadence and sexual cynicism of the French aristocracy in the last years of the ancien regime. Christopher Hampton has made a masterful adaptation for the stage of the conspiracy to corrupt a young girl barely out of her convent.Tags
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In 1985, Christopher Hampton published a play based on de Laclos' famous 1782 novel. That play was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, was exported to Broadway, and was adapted to a film in 1988, also by Hampton. This audio book is a BBC dramatization of Hampton's play. While I have not read Laclos' epistolary novel, descriptions suggest that the play sticks fairly close to the book.
I greatly enjoyed the audio version of the play -- it is excellent in nature and quality. It is beautifully acted, and the various characters come through distinct by their voices and dialogue. As for the story line itself, I found it enthralling. I also found it astonishing that a story depicting such decadence and degeneracy could date to the late show more 1700s -- even granting that the French have long been more explicit about sexual matters than the stuffy English. This work is so well acted that the ending (which is not a happy one) was hard to listen to. Having been released on audio cassette tapes (totaling 135 minutes), this audio version is difficult to find (I secured it 2nd hand via Amazon). However, for those so inclined to try it, I highly recommend it. And I am now motivated to seek out both the film and LeClos' actual book. show less
I greatly enjoyed the audio version of the play -- it is excellent in nature and quality. It is beautifully acted, and the various characters come through distinct by their voices and dialogue. As for the story line itself, I found it enthralling. I also found it astonishing that a story depicting such decadence and degeneracy could date to the late show more 1700s -- even granting that the French have long been more explicit about sexual matters than the stuffy English. This work is so well acted that the ending (which is not a happy one) was hard to listen to. Having been released on audio cassette tapes (totaling 135 minutes), this audio version is difficult to find (I secured it 2nd hand via Amazon). However, for those so inclined to try it, I highly recommend it. And I am now motivated to seek out both the film and LeClos' actual book. show less
Madame Merteuil holds my favourite monologue belonging to any character in this absolute masterpiece of a play. It's a masterclass in the deceipt so often naturally inclusive in human relations.
Deliciously evil.
(Wikipedia) Les Liaisons dangereuses (French: [le ljɛzɔ̃ dɑ̃ʒ(ə)ʁøz]; English: Dangerous Liaisons) is a French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782.
It is the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two narcissistic rivals (and ex-lovers) who use seduction as a weapon to socially control and exploit others, all the while enjoying their cruel games and boasting about their talent for manipulation. It has been seen as depicting the corruption and depravity of the French nobility shortly before the French Revolution, and thereby attacking the Ancien Régime. However, it has also been described as merely a story about two completely show more amoral people. show less
It is the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two narcissistic rivals (and ex-lovers) who use seduction as a weapon to socially control and exploit others, all the while enjoying their cruel games and boasting about their talent for manipulation. It has been seen as depicting the corruption and depravity of the French nobility shortly before the French Revolution, and thereby attacking the Ancien Régime. However, it has also been described as merely a story about two completely show more amoral people. show less
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Les Liaisons dangereuses is a 1985 play by Christopher Hampton adapted from the 1782 novel of the same title by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.
Dec 22, 2024Portuguese (Brazil)
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Born on January 26, 1946 in Fayal in the Azores, Christopher Hampton graduated from New College, Oxford, with a Modern Languages degree in 1968. After a stint as the resident dramatist at the Royal Court from 1968 to 1970, Hampton began a career as a playwright, soon becoming interested in screenwriting, directing, and producing. As a playwright, show more Hampton wrote more than a dozen tales including When Did You Last See My Mother?, Tales from Hollywood, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and Alice's Adventures Under Ground. In 1988, Hampton decided to take his hit play Les Liaisons Dangereuses to the big screen. The resulting movie, Dangerous Liaisons, which Hampton also co-produced, featured Michelle Pfeiffer and John Malkovich in leading roles. Hampton has also written the screenplays for the movies A Doll's House, a story based on Henrik Ibsen's popular play, The Secret Agent and Carrington, both of which Hampton also directed, and Mary Reilly, which starred Julia Roberts. Christopher Hampton has received numerous honors including the Laurence Olivier Award for Les Liaisons Dangereuses in 1986, an Academy Award and Writers' Guild award in 1988 for Dangerous Liaisons, and a Tony award in 1995 for Best Score and Best Book of a Musical for Sunset Boulevard. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses
- Original title
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses
- Alternate titles
- The Dangerous Liaisons
- Original publication date
- 1985
- People/Characters
- Vicomte de Valmont; Madame de Tourvel; Marquise de Merteuil; Cecile de Volanges; Chevalier Danceny; Madame de Volanges (show all 9); Azolan; Madame de Rosemonde; Emelie
- Important places
- Paris, France; Bois de Vincennes, Paris, France
- Related movies
- Dangerous Liaisons (1988 | IMDb); The Dangerous Liaisons (1994 | IMDb); Cruel Intentions (1999 | IMDb)
- Epigraph
- Comme devant tant d'oeuvres de notre temps - pas seulement litteraires - le lecteur des Laisons eut put dire: 'Ca ne peut pas durer ainsi.'
Andre Malraux, 1969 - Dedication
- To Roger
- First words
- MERTEUIL: Well, my dear.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)MERTEUIL: This has been a terrible few weeks. But time passes so quickly. A new year tomorrow and more than half-way through the eighties already. I used to be afraid of growing old, but now I trust in God and accept. I dare say we would not be wrong to look forward to whatever the nineties may bring. Meanwhile, I suggest our best course is to continue with the game.
- Blurbers
- Curry, Jack; Lindstrom, Pia; Crist, Judith
- Original language
- French
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Statistics
- Members
- 263
- Popularity
- 122,669
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (4.18)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
- ASINs
- 7
