AN ANNOTATED SADEAN BIBLIOGRAPHY

FICTIONAL WORKS

Often the best clues to the practice of Carnal Alchemy are not to be found in “how-to” books, or in “cookbook” approaches to magic—but rather between the lines in the great works of fiction written from the heart of darkness in the center of each of the authors of literary works such as those that we present here.

Anonymous. Beatrice. New York: Grove Press, 1982.

Extremely well-written novel of sexual enslavement in the English countryside—with some special emphasis on equestrian training.

Anonymous. The Days at Florville. New York: Grove Press, 1983.

This book is continued in The Gardens of the Night and Beatrice and must count as the great “Victorian” classics of D/S. It is perhaps in this work and the others that the “O-Mythos” was first engendered. It traces the sexual enslavement of Lesley within a secret brotherhood, the exact limits of which remain unknown.

Anonymous. The Gardens of the Night. New York: Grove Press, 1985.

Apparently written by the same author who wrote Days at Florville, of which it is the continuation. This work takes us deeper into the underground international network—and takes Lesley deeper into the realms of voluptuous slavery. It features some severe forms of discipline and ingenious and imaginative forms of punishment.

Anonymous. Tomboy: Revelations of a Girls’ Reformatory. New York: Grove Press, 1986.

Erotic glimpse into the deliciously cruel culture of English girls’ reformatories of the Victorian Age. This book features descriptions of severe canings and birchings.

Berg, Jean de. The Image. Translated by Patsy Southgate. New York: Grove Press, 1966.

Originally published in France in 1956. This work appeared just two years after Story of O and was graced with a preface by Pauline Réage herself. It is the only work to have come close to matching the modern mythic appeal of Story of O. This book was the basis of a film released under both the titles, The Image and The Punishment of Anne.

Berg, Jeanne de. Women’s Rites. Translated by Anselm Hollo. New York: Grove Press, 1987.

Translated from a 1985 French collection, Ceremonies de femmes, this book is supposed to be by the wife of the author of The Image. It portrays an elegant world of European D/S sexuality from a female dominant perspective and gives a wonderful glimpse into the mind of the sexually dominant personality.

Califia, Pat. Macho Sluts. Boston: Alyson Press, 1988.

This collection of short stories is remarkable for the deep-level insight it gives into the psychology of the dominant persona. The writing talent necessary to do this is extraordinary. From this literary perspective it is perhaps the best work of S/M fiction since Story of O. Its viewpoint is pansexual, which makes the writing achievement even more impressive.

Coover, Robert. Spanking the Maid. New York: Grove Press, 1988.

This is a highly erotic postmodern novel in which the metaphor of corporal punishment is used to reveal a hidden magical world beyond the facade of appearances.

McNeill, Elizabeth. Nine and A Half Weeks. New York: E. P.
Dutton, 1978.

Supposedly a true story. If true, it would seem that the man in the story was a half-trained Chateau-valet. Some of the techniques used by him are valid, but he did not know how to apply them gracefully—and he paid the price! Despite this his “Elizabeth” has provided us with a highly erotic account of her experiences. The book was the basis of a film, but not one that does the book any justice.

Rampling, Anne. (= Anne Rice). Exit to Eden. Anne. (= Anne Rice). Exit to Eden.

As a philosophical statement and as a manual of practical dream-weaving, this work is the most compelling D/S work since Story of O. It is primarily from the female dominant, male submissive perspective, which makes it doubly important, as little good literature exists from this angle. “The Club” as described in the book is based on the idea of Roissy.

Réage, Pauline. Story of O. Translated by Sabine d’Estree. New York: Grove Press, 1965.

Originally published in France in 1954, this is the great modern classic against which all others are measured. The book was the basis of a faithful film adaptation released under the title The Story of O.

Roquelaure, A. N. (= Anne Rice). Beauty’s Punishment. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1984.

A continuation of the Beauty series, and perhaps the best of the trilogy.

Roquelaure, A. N. (= Anne Rice). Beauty’s Release. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1985.

A continuation of the Beauty trilogy, and certainly its most exotic.

Roquelaure, A. N. (= Anne Rice). The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1983.

This, along with its two sequels, forms the basis of an alternate mythos to the “O-Mythos” with which it shares many characteristics. It creates a fairy-tale universe—a Sado-Masochistic utopia that all should visit.

Sacher-Masoch, Leopold von. Venus in Furs. Translated by Jean McNeil. In Masochism. New York: Zone Books, 1989.

A volume in Masoch’s projected Heritage of Cain series, it is a classic study of male Masochism that illustrates much of the modern and postmodern mythology of S/M.

NONFICTION WORKS

Although there are many books on the subject of Sado-Masochism, most published before 1990 were written from a purely psychopathological viewpoint—which means that they were virtually worthless to the Sado-Magician. There are some exceptions. In the early 1990s there was a flood of “how-to” books on S-M, not all of uniform quality. Each of the books presented in this category is unique and special in some respect, and assimilation of the contents of these works will make anyone a better practitioner of Carnal Alchemy.

Anthony, Edward. Thy Rod and Staff. London: Abacus, 1996.

A wide-ranging study of the flagellant experience notable for its extensive discussions of the ritual aspects of the “English vice” and the importance of archetypal roles assumed by the participants.

Baldwin, Guy. Ties That Bind: The SM/Leather/Fetish Erotic Style. Los Angeles: Daedalus, 1993.

Although this is an anthology of articles from gay male magazines, the psychospiritual dimensions he discusses are universal human ones. The issues range from those more properly defined as mental or emotional health to the attainment of a transformational psychomystical state of being.

Califia, Pat, ed. The Lesbian S/M Safety Manual. Boston: Lace/Alyson, 1988.

Informative collection of essays on all aspects of safety in S/M activity. Here safety includes emotional as well as physical considerations.

Califia, Pat. Sensuous Magic: A Guide for Adventurous Couples. New York: Richard Kasak, 1993.

Although this book is not about magic in the definition we use, its contents can be considered magical in themselves in that they can open doorways to experience among people who have not considered the spiritual dimension of S-M.

Cowan, Lyn. Masochism: A Jungian View. Dallas, Tex.: Spring Publications, 1982.

This book offers valuable insight into the positive psychological effects and functions of Masochism. It should be read by all healthy and self-aware and self-affirming submissives—and by those who would dominate them.

Deforges, Regine. Confessions of O: Conversations with Pauline Réage. Translated by Sabine d’Estree. New York: Viking Press, 1979.

This work, which is written in the style of an interview with “Pauline Réage,” offers otherwise impossible to obtain insight into the mind that created the “O-Mythos.” We are afforded a glimpse into the origins of it—in Anglophilism, for example.

Deleuze, Gilles. Coldness and Cruelty. Translated by Jean McNeil. In Masochism. New York: Zone Books, 1989.

An insightful study of the life, work, and philosophy of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch and the relationship of that philosophy to that of Sade.

Gorer, Geoffrey. The Life and Ideas of the Marquis de Sade. 2nd ed. London: Owen, 1953

Gorer’s study of Sade is the most insightful and philosophically sophisticated yet produced. A basic understanding of Sade’s thought is intellectually beneficial to the Sado-Magician and can give some understanding of the physical aspects of Carnal Alchemy, although ultimately Sade’s philosophy is too shortsighted to serve as a framework for a total theory of how pleasure and pain can be used for self-transformation.

Greene, Gerald and Caroline. S-M: The Last Taboo. New York: Grove Press, 1974.

This is perhaps the best general nonfiction book ever published on the subject of algolagnia. It is written from the viewpoint of those who actually practice the arts, in an open healthy way. It is philosophically sound and includes a variety of some of the best D/S erotic fiction as appendices.

Jacques, Trevor. On the Safe Edge: A Manual for SM Play. Toronto: WholeSM, 1993.

 This might best be defined as an extensive SM safety manual—its topics range from technical safety during a scene to aspects of mental and physical health.

Midori. The Seductive Art of Japanese Rope Bondage. Emeryville, Calif.: Greenery Press, 2001.

A good and basic how-to manual on the techniques of Japanese rope bondage.

Miller, Philip, and Molly Devon. Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns: The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism. Fairfield, Conn.: Mystic Rose Books, 1995.

Here is a highly informative and heavily illustrated guide to the general principles of S-M sexuality. Recommended for beginners in S-M who cannot find a group to work with. Like other books, which hint at “magic” in their titles, this one has nothing to do with magic, as we, or other practicing magicians, would define it. However, the repeated use of the word “magic” in connection with conventional S-M does show the degree to which it is widely held that there is something intrinsically mysterious about S-M in general.

Scott, Gini G. Erotic Power: An Exploration of Dominance and Submission. Seacaucus, N.J.: Citadel, 1983.

Scott’s book was published earlier under the title Dominant Women, Submissive Men, which is really more descriptive of the material in the book. It is a sympathetic study of the D/S scene written from a sociological perspective. It contains some insights into the “religious” and ritual elements of the culture but really does not go beyond the surface, as the author is a sociologist, not a magician.

Wiseman, Jay. SM 101: A Realistic Introduction. Berkeley, Calif.: Author, 1992.

This is a classic introduction to safe, sane, and consensual S-M, with many ideas on how to find and negotiate with potential partners.