Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos is a masterpiece of 18^th century literature.  An epistolary novel consisting of four volumes of letters written by and to the various characters, it was viewed as scandalous when it was first published in 1782 for its frank and pitiless exploration of seduction, revenge and malice.  The story centers on the rivalry of two aristocrats, Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont, who use seduction to manipulate and humiliate others.  Merteuil seeks to corrupt the virtuous young Cecile de Volanges, while Valmont has his sights on seducing the married Mme de Tourvel.  Spite and revenge drive each to pursue the object of the other’s desire, the rivalry escalates to war, and the two duel to settle the score.  One dies, and damage, guilt and suffering inhabits the lives of the survivors.   

Les Liaisons dangereuses is thought by some to have been a depiction of the perversions of the decadent French aristocracy just prior to the French Revolution, and it easy to imagine in hindsight the revolution being inspired by the damnable behavior of the amoral libertines. There is another perspective, however, that sees the book as a morality tale of sorts that shows how the wages of sin give rise to dishonor, disfigurement and death, and it is worth noting that the book was widely distributed and enjoyed by the conservative nobles of the Ancien Regime in spite of its scandalous reputation.

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