Point of View

As a collection of pieces by different authors, different points of view are offered in "The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings." The book opens with two fairly recent essays by academic authors, who apply a modern critical point of view to Sade's writing. These authors, Simone de Beauvoir and Pierre Klossowski, are examining Sade as a figure who has already reached a somewhat legendary status in literature as well as had his name attached to a particular branch of sexual activity known as sadism. They each attempt to extract from Sade's writings what is important to modern readers.

Contrasted with this point of view is that of the journalist Villeterque, a contemporary of Sade's whose review of "Les Crimes de l'Amour" is included in the collection. Villeterque writes from the point of view of a reviewer of books at the time Sade is publishing and...