A series of intimate letters chronicles the amorous adventures of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont — rivals who use their bodies as weapons in the war of the sexes. Set in the final days of the ancien régime, the novel paints a revealing portrait of aristocratic decadence.
Here's a sample of other books in this Dover category
Great French Short Stories by Paul Negri Features 12 classic tales, including "The Necklace" (Maupassant); "The Unknown Masterpiece" (Balzac); "The Attack on the Mill" (Zola); plus works by Gide, Daudet, and 7 other authors.
Swann's Way by Marcel Proust, C. K. Scott Montcrieff The first volume of the 7-part masterpiece In Search of Lost Time, Swann's Way introduces the reader to Charles Swann, a wealthy connoisseur in 19th-century Paris and a victim of an agonizing romance.
The Red and the Black by Stendhal, Horace B. Samuel This landmark of psychological realism chronicles a young provincial's progress in Parisian society of the early 19th century, where he encounters passion, intrigue, and mortal peril.
The Immoralist by André Gide Superb novel deals with the consequences of amoral hedonism in the story of a man who tries to rise above good and evil and give free rein to his passions. Introductory Note. Map. Footnotes.
