 'The
Story of O', written by Pauline Reage (a pen-name), is a milestone of modern
SM literature and a true BDSM icon. Graham Greene described it as 'A rare
thing, a pornographic book well written and without a trace of obscenity'.
The novel (originally published in French as Histoire d'O) tells the story
of a young Parisian fashion photographer referred to only as O and her
introduction to the world of sado-masochism at the hands of her lover Rene,
the enigmatic 'Sir Stephen', and other members of a clandestine society
dedicated to the pleasures of sadomasochism. The story starts with O being
taken by Rene to a chateau called 'Roissy' on the edge of Paris where she
is systematically subjugated and moulded into a willing slave through sexual
assaults, regular whippings, and long hours in solitude. The publication
of 'The story of O' in the sexually uptight 1950's naturally caused intense
controversy. The daring exploration of dark themes of sexuality quickly
became the talk of the French salons and cafes and there was fevered speculation
as to the true identity of its author. In the following year the novel
established its literary credentials by winning the Prix des Deux Magots,
a literary prize generally awarded to new and unconventional books. Despite
continuing public outrage and a police investigation involving the interrogation
of the publisher, Jean-Jacques Pauvert, the book continued to be published
and the identity of Pauline Reage remained a well kept secret. Pauline,
revealed before her death in 1998 as journalist and translator Dominique
Aury, claimed the book was intended as a 'love letter' to her lover Jean
Paulhan, a way of keeping his interest alive after an affair lasting almost
two decades. Paulhan, one of France's most respected literary figures,
loved it and suggested immediate publication. Histoire d'O by Pauline Reage,
with a foreword by Jean Paulhan, was first published in a limited edition
of 600 copies by Jean-Jacques Pauvert and appeared in June 1954. Some copies,
nobody seems to know how many, carried a small lithograph by Austrian artist
Hans Bellmer on the title page and these are quite valuable today. In the
50 years since it hit the literary world like a bombshell, the Story of
O has sold millions of copies and has never been out of print. Some regard
its descriptions of sado-masochism as subtle, enigmatic and incredibly
erotic while others find the writing clumsy, the characters wooden, and
the plot weak. Whatever its value as a work of literary art, the novel
has aquired an iconic status amongst those with an interest in BDSM and
remains almost required reading. The impact of this book is still felt
today. Stray into the darker recesses of the internet and you'll be amazed
at how many eager 'Sir Stephens' and 'Rene's' you bump into and how many
websites you'll find using the 'Roissy' name. A BDSM Icon. |
