Published to commemorate the bicentennial of D. A. F. de Sade's death, this collection of essays argues that the 21st century deserves a more complete picture of Sade. Parker and Sclippa present the essays in two sections: 'Thinking, Feeling, Reading Sade' and 'In Pursuit of D. A. F. de Sade.' Part 1 focuses on common themes in Sadean scholarship—apathy, perversion, obscenity, and the carnivalesque. The contributors demonstrate that Sade uses these themes as a means of political critique of the Revolution, rather than simply to titillate. The essays in part 2 present Sade as an individual who was firmly part of the Enlightenment, rather than lurking on the boundaries. Moreover, in this section, the authors argue that in addition to being a product of his era, Sade's writings on materialism, medicine, and sexuality have the ability to reach across centuries, influencing discussions in the 21st century. As Parker notes in her introduction, 'Sade is both curious … and a curiosity,'an author who continues to provoke. This book offers a compelling collection of writings attesting to the enduring offerings of the divin marquis. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.

Choice Reviews