The Story of O is an erotic novel about love, dominance and submission by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Reage. Published in French by Jean-Jacques Pauvert, Story of O is a tale of female submission about a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer, O, who is blindfolded, chained, whipped, branded, pierced, made to wear a mask, and taught to be constantly available for oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse. Despite her harsh treatment, O grants permission beforehand for everything that occurs, and her ...
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The Story of O is an erotic novel about love, dominance and submission by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Reage. Published in French by Jean-Jacques Pauvert, Story of O is a tale of female submission about a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer, O, who is blindfolded, chained, whipped, branded, pierced, made to wear a mask, and taught to be constantly available for oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse. Despite her harsh treatment, O grants permission beforehand for everything that occurs, and her permission is consistently sought. At the beginning of the story, O's lover, Rene, brings her to the chateau of Roissy, where she is trained to serve the men of an elite group. After this first period of training is finished, as a demonstration of their bond and his generosity, Rene hands O to Sir Stephen, a more dominant master. Rene wants O to learn to serve someone whom she does not love, and someone who does not love her.
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Pauline Reage's novel has often been interpreted as the descent of a woman into sexual slavery. The real theme of this novel is the persistent search by males for ideal orgasms. By consenting to unrestrained anality by men, O enables men to surrender to their needs. She is obviously not the first to traverse the series of numerous males who by feeding on their orgasms, become hungry for more, and spend more and more time pursuing anal intercourse. The book is about men, admittedly seen through the eyes of one woman, who seems wide-eyed and open to the extents to which men will go in order to express their sexual needs. The Story of O is about the male orgasm and how men are driven to achieve them, improve on them, repeat them. The Story of O is about men who become sexual addicts, but (for unspecified reasons) are allowed to develop their sexual addictions fully.
john4708
Jan 8, 2009
It is a very detailed and frank account of the way some men regard women. It does not really give a very good insight into 'O's thoughts, but rather leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions. On another level it is perhaps a comment on slavery. The French do have a more liberal attitude to sex, and this is one reason for this novel. The female distinction between love and sex seems more advanced than the male. I personally enjoyed the book, and the film.
LadySpicy
Oct 25, 2007
Not So Much
This book was way to whips and chains for me. This woman even consents to being branded with her lover/master's initials and the story doesn't even end on an up-note.
