Literature Companion: Dangerous Liaisons

“Dangerous Liaisons” is titled “Les Liaisons dangereuses” in French. This French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos was highly acclaimed when it was first published in 1782. The novel was first published in four volumes.

The story revolves around two rivals and ex-lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont. Both of them often try to humiliate and degrade others and to achieve this end they use seduction as a weapon.

They enjoy their cruel games and often boast about their manipulation of others. Through this novel, the author has tried to show the decadence of the French aristocracy shortly before the French Revolution. The narrative exposes the so-called Ancient Regime by presenting it as pervert.

Literature Companion: Dangerous Liaisons
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Literary Significance of the Book
Chapter Four: Characters
Chapter Five: Complete Summary
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Chapter Six: Critical Analysis