Described by some as "the most absolute writer who ever lived," the Marquis de Sade is perhaps the most maligned figure in all history. Reading his works, one can see why. The extreme egoism and resistance to authority he advocated (and practiced!) are enough to stir up con-troversy and opposition even today, nearly 200 years after his death.
Sade's best work by far is Philosophy in the Bedroom. In it, a shapely teenybopper is instructed in the sexual arts by several horny amoral adults of various sexes. It is hardcore porno, capable of appealing to your prurient interests even today. In between the sex scenes, the characters rest up by discussing morality and philosophy (the other half of the dolly's education). These passages alone are worth the price of the book. Sade not only predates, but goes even beyond Nietzsche and Stirner in his advocacy of the absolute supremacy of the individual's will.
No wonder they kept him locked up. No wonder they made his very name a dirty word. His writings are stark and absolute, utterly free of hypocrisy. You will find yourself both gasping with astonishment and roaring with laughter.
This edition of Philosophy in the Bedroom is bound with some other of Sade's writings (most of which are boring ¾ they don't have quite the flair of Philosophy in the Bedroom). Also included are several well-done essays on Sade and his writings, biographical material, and a chronology of the bad dude's life. So, if you want to read a mixture of hardcore porno and hardcore egoism, as well as take a little glimpse into the mind of the most outrageous figure in human history, give Philosophy in the Bedroom a try. We bet you will be glad you did!