A Sadist's Unrestrained Pursuit of Desire

A deeper look at the Marquis de Sade

When I first arrived in Paris in 1960, my uncle Pierre Klossowski (1905–2001) and his wife Denise Morin-Sinclair (1919–2019) very kindly often had me over for lunch at their Left Bank apartment at 3 Rue du Canivet, not very far from the famous Church of Saint Sulpice.

One afternoon, at my request, my uncle took me to his study and presented me with an original copy of the first edition of Sade Mon Prochain (Sade My Neighbor), his famous tome on the Marquis de Sade, which contained a remarkable dedication, which said:

“For Stachou, who is doubly warned with a thousand reservations as to this text, in all affection, his old uncle K.”

I frequently consult the book, which has rarely left my side and is in dire need of binding, as it does a close examination of Donatien Alphonse François, better known as the Marquis de Sade (1740–1844).

Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer best known for his libertine lifestyle and provocative works. His work was a blend of explicit content, violence, and intimate fantasies that has had a lasting impact on literature, philosophy, psychology, and culture.

The terms "sadism" and "sadist" come from the French word sadisme, which was derived from the Marquis de Sade’s name and his notorious reputation. I think you, my valued reader, might appreciate a brief summary of Sade Mon Prochain’s intriguing themes: