Les liaisons dangereuses / Lettres recueillies dans une Société et publiées pour l'instruction de quelques autres

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

52006

Title

Les liaisons dangereuses / Lettres recueillies dans une Société et publiées pour l'instruction de quelques autres

Language

fr

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in 1780s France, this epistolary novel explores the dark art of seduction and revenge. Through a correspondence between two aristocrats, the text reveals a society where morality is a facade and passion is weaponized. With its cynical tone and intricate psychological maneuvering, the work offers a timeless critique of social hypocrisy and the destructive power of unchecked desire.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the glittering yet corrupt aristocratic society of 1780s France, Choderlos de Laclos's *Les Liaisons dangereuses* exposes the deadly game of seduction and manipulation played by the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil. Their correspondence, intercepted and published by a society of observers, reveals an intricate web of deceit, lust, and malice. Valmont, a notorious libertine, sets out to conquer the virtuous Madame de Tourvel, while Merteuil, a master of social engineering, orchestrates schemes to destroy reputations and satisfy her own vengeful passions. As Valmont pursues his conquests, he finds himself entangled in a web of his own making, particularly with the innocent Cecile Volanges, whose heart he seeks to break only to find himself unexpectedly moved. Meanwhile, Merteuil's schemes spiral out of control, leading to tragic consequences for the innocent women she intended to use as pawns. The narrative unfolds through a series of passionate and calculating letters, revealing the inner thoughts of characters who wear masks of virtue while plotting ruin. Themes of hypocrisy, the corruption of innocence, and the fatal nature of playing with fire permeate the story. The novel culminates in a devastating conclusion that underscores the author's warning about the dangers of such liaisons, leaving readers to ponder the cost of ambition and the fragility of virtue in a world where morality is merely a tool for manipulation. Through the letters, Laclos illustrates how the pursuit of power and pleasure inevitably leads to self-destruction, as the characters' calculated actions ultimately consume them.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52006.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg52006.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-08 08:44 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Romance
• Fiction