Penguin Classics Venus In Furs (Paperback)

Yet, after 40 pages, the masochism and sadism became frankly boring, and repetative. As Wanda invented new ways to torture Severin, she really wasn't inventing anything new, just more of the same old.

Ironically, what at first seems like a progressive, amoral book, reveals itself as really a naughty fantasy of a very conservative mind, and all Wanda and Severin want to do is get married. Can anything be more boring than that? This is true perversion, and not really thinking outside of the box.

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.

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.