For those who have tried their hand at Deleuze's other works--notably _A Thousand Pleateus_ and _Anti-Oedipus_--the title of my review will completely make sense. In this essay, Deleuze presents an egaging arguement about the development of the Oedipal complex and its relation to masochism. Basically, in the final stage of Freud's Oedipus the son is meant to internalize an identification with the father. In revolt he engages in the masochistic drama--a desperate attempt to re-enter the early stage of identification with the mother. By engaging in Masoch's drama, the woman becomes the subject's mother, and she proceeds to ritualistically beat the father out of the son. After all, dad is the one guilty of forcing the two apart in the first place. But this woman, this actress playing the mother, is certainly not a "sadist"; she herself is a masochist, because masochism has by this point proven to be an entire setting--an entire life--all of the characters, tools, words, rituals and scripted parts involved therein.

Contract, ritual, drama and fear combine to show us complexities of human expressions of violence, care, sexuality and the inter-relation between these three. I do not understand why this book has not recieved as much attention as some of Deleuze's others; its brilliance and accessibility--packaged of course with the eloquent and important _Venus in Furs_--make it well worth your time and money.

this is HOT stuff!!!do yourself a favor and get yer mitts on this one!!!

This refers to the book, Venus in Furs, not the essay by Deleuze. I loved this book. Not because I'm some psycho who enjoys pain, but because it tastefully deals with an issue that is too often either misrepresented as some libertine taboo or dealt with in a clinical way. Instead you have a story that deals with love in a different way than a typical Danielle Steele romance novel or a "boy meets girl," sappy drugstore paperback. And while it deals with passionate cruelty it, unlike books by Sade, captures unbridled desire and an inflamed heart. It is truly a great work of literature, easily comparable to "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Goethe.

If you like sappy romance stories, buy something else. If you want an intriguing love story full of the passion of life and the strumming of the stings of emotion, read away.

Originally published in Mannheim in 1891, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's Jewish Life: Tales from Nineteenth-Century Europe is an impressive and compelling anthology of twenty-six stories which present a vivid picture of Jewish life and culture in Europe before the twentieth century. From the Chasidic movement to cabalism, Judaic holiday celebrations, cultural life, and much, much more, Jewish Life encompasses humor, sentiment, abiding faith, and a rich legacy of tradition and is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and academic Judaic Studies collections and reading lists.

This is a very good introduction for those who want to understand how Deleuze works and understands the thought of others. One thing is that he extracts from literature a solution to psychoanalytic problem. To do this he deconstructs the concepts of Sadism and Masochism which are found together in psychoanalysis (not exactly freud). Meanwhile he rebuilds the concept of Masochism following Sacher Masoch himself, especially using the help of his wife Wanda (important book to follow Deleuze's thought). This is what he calls in his book "What is philosophy?", a Pedagogy of Concepts, for from here he will extract future aspects of the chapter "Body without Organs" of his book "Thousand Plateau". He reads Masoch not to explain Masoh, but to explain Deleuze.

For some people Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch is a great artist, for other an inspiration, but if anyone takes his fiction to heart, you need to read this book first. Here you'll read about how the man she thought was her savior turned into a nightmarish character who used money and her children to get her to publically and privately transgress her own morals and her own desires. I'm not convinced that the translation is the best and frankly the translators need more time giving us their creditials. I also found the images that are included to be distracting from the main message: she was abused, she was never a dominant or a sadist. Wanda's life is a sad reminder that women have not been legally equals to men for most of human history and that any "incidents" of SM we see in the past is probably not BDSM but instead a reflection of the abuse that such unequal societies promote and sanctify.

high quality paperback. this book offers insight into the legend of Von Sacher-Masoch, his life and times thru the eyes of his wife who made it all possible. billed as a feminist classic- this story is a prime example of what a woman will do for love and survival. A good read. Not what you would expect. Read this book.

One thing is for certain: you won't read very many books that tackle a topic such as this one. Leopold von Sacher-Masoch ended up lending his name to the sexual fetish known as S&M, due mainly to this book. "Venus in Furs" is a fictionalized account of Sacher-Masoch's own sexual peccadilloes. What is surprising about this book is when it was written. It was penned in the late 19th century, although the subject matter would seem more appropriate in our own decadent age.

The book introduces us to Severin, who has an unusual sexual proclivity. He likes to be dominated by women. He wants to be an "anvil" to a woman's "hammer". This fetish involves becoming a slave to a woman, a process that is actually consummated by a written contract. Severin meets a young, gorgeous woman by the name of Wanda von Dunajew. Dunajew is a wealthy widow who quickly becomes attracted to Severin's intellectual abilities, and the two strike up a relationship. Severin immediately tries to get Wanda to indulge his fantasy, and most of the book details the evolution of this relationship. Severin becomes Wanda's servant, even taking the name Gregor at Wanda's insistence. Severin is forced to dress as a servant, and must take care of Wanda's needs at all times. Interspersed with Severin's hardships are episodes of kicking and whippings, as well as sexual relations. Severin can think of nothing more pleasurable than to be tortured by Wanda, not only physically, but mentally as well. When Wanda strikes up relationships with other men, Severin is thrust into the pits of despair/pleasure, as he is afraid of losing Wanda to somebody else. I won't spoil the ending for you, but it does involve some twists and turns that are somewhat interesting.

The most important part of Severin's fantasy is that Wanda must wear furs while she tortures him. Why does Severin insist on furs? I suspect that it has something to do with the raw power of the animal world. In short, fur symbolizes natural power. This is what S&M is all about anyway. Love must be reduced to a power relationship, and some people really get off on that. If Sacher-Masoch were alive today, his Wanda would most likely wear Nazi paraphernalia or leather, which is the modern equivalent of the sort of power that Sacher-Masoch found in animal fur.

Overall, this book really isn't my cup of tea. I'm not into S&M, so that part of the book doesn't appeal to me. I did enjoy the numerous descriptions of Wanda, with her red hair and green eyes. I love women with red hair and green eyes! This is a quick read at a little over 100 pages, but certainly not a book for everyone.

A well thought out erotic tale.

Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch's 'Venus In Furs', is interesting though eccentric, and perverse though compelling. Besieged in wonder and suspense, the love affair between characters: Severin von Kusiemski and Wanda von Dunajew, becomes a roller coaster ride of desire and emotion.

The obsessive fantasy to be enslaved and brutalized by the woman he loves becomes a cruel reality for poor old Severin. As beautiful Wanda slowly becomes thrilled and captivated by the notion of fulfilling her role in his fantasy, a role that previously made her shrug and laugh, she eventually transforms herself into the controlling dominatrix of Severin's dreams--by becoming more ideal at the sadomasochistic lifestyle than he had ever dreamed was possible. As Severin becomes the ever so content and happy slave, this tug-of-war between self-esteem and power begins to twist and turn with the innocent and deadly psychological games played out between the two.

Written more than a hundred years ago, this psychodrama of love, bound by the perverted desires of one and the demon lying dormant within the other, was tastefully and artfully done.

Venus in Furs is one of the most spritual works of erotica I've ever read. Much has been made of its "perversity", to the extent that the name of its author is also the name of a psycho-sexual disfunction. However, I feel that this is a grossly unfair way to treat a book that deals so beautifully with the descent and return of a man through his psyche.

Sevrin's tale is one of submission, slavery, and redemption. It is through the experience of being a woman's slave that he realizes his own worth. To treat this as an epic of laciviousness is puritanism of the lowest kind.

Venus in Furs also reminds us that the difference between hammer and anvil may not be so clear cut. It is Severin who brings out the whip in his lover. He then reaps the whirlwind, and can only ride it out.

This book is recommended for people who can see though the drivel that has been dripped upon it since its creation.

This book describes a period in the life of a nobelman who totally submits to the woman he loves, no, adores. He worships her totally and promises her his total obedience. It did not start out that way....

It is very useful for people who are interested or want to try to understand the sensuality and excitement of S&M. It answers the many times asked question: what excites you about being whipped? Ofcourse it is not the same for every person, but this book gives you a pretty good idea of what goes on in a submissive mind...

A recommender!