Justine ~ Marquis de Sade

Justine ~ Marquis de Sade

Translated by Richard Seaver & Austryn Wainhouse | Cover design by Monica Elias

A provocative classic of 18th-century literature, Justine explores themes of virtue, vice, and society through the darkly philosophical lens of the Marquis de Sade. This 1993 softcover edition was produced for the prestigious Book-of-the-Month Club and features the acclaimed translation by Seaver and Wainhouse.

The story follows the tragic journey of a young woman determined to remain virtuous in a corrupt and predatory world.

After being orphaned, Justine and her sister Juliette take divergent pathsJuliette embraces vice and prospers, while Justine clings to moral purity. Her unwavering virtue, however, leads her into a series of harrowing encounters with hypocritical judges, abusive monks, and libertines who exploit her innocence. Each attempt to find honest work or refuge ends in betrayal, imprisonment, or violence.

Told as a cautionary tale, the novel explores the paradox of virtue punished and vice rewarded, ultimately questioning the moral order of society. Despite her suffering, Justine remains committed to her idealsuntil fate delivers a final, ironic blow.

📎 Edition Details:

• Copyright © 1965 by Seaver & Wainhouse

• This edition created in 1993 for Book-of-the-Month Club

• Printed in the USA

• Medium format softcover with striking period design

• Pages set in classic serif type for a vintage feel

📚 Condition:

• Clean and tightly bound

• Slight moisture staining at the top edge (text unaffected)

• Otherwise excellent for reading or collecting

A bold and historically significant title for collectors of avant-garde, libertine, or philosophical literature.