Dangerous Liaisons

The fables epistolary novel Dangerous Liaisons ranges among the most fundamental achievements of the world’s literature, which – since its first edition back in 1782 – has never ceased provoking and causing a stir. Upon its publication, the book became an absolute bestseller. Two thousand copies of the first edition were sold in just one month and within the next two years ten more editions came out, which was then totally extraordinary. The story of two famous emotional cynics, Valmont and marquise de Merteuil, was repeatedly adapted for theatre, radio and film. Their stake – that Valmont seduces the inaccessible Madame de Tourvel – first seems to be a reckless game with feelings. The ‘initiation’ of the young and innocent Cécile followed a similar pattern. However, for us all the three main characters have one thing in common: they believe that love can never really touch them. This disdainfulness has almost the power of a classical drama; it eventually leads the three ‘unbeatable’ heroes to destroy themselves.