Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novella revolves around the relationship of Severin and Wanda. Severin is obsessed with Wanda (the titular "Venus in Furs") to the extent that he seeks to deify her and to submit to her as a slave. The problem arises that Severin can only take this proposition to a middle ground. He isn't contented with a traditional spousal arrangement, but yet he is unable to submit to the fullest extent of what it means to be enslaved. He, as have many others, believes that if he submits himself fully, he will become the center of Wanda's world and she will have no need of other relationships. And, as it has for many others, this "domination through submission" scheme frays and fails in time.
Wanda, for her part, recognizes this disparity and is conflicted about the idea of having a slave. Her rational mind thinks it's a bad idea, her own cravings are for a man with a more commanding personality, but her hedonistic pleasure centers find it a not altogether objectionable state of affairs. After an extended period of spurning the proposition, she goes all in and agrees to test the proposition. If she is reliable, she does this in order to teach Severin a lesson - though one can never tell about the reliability of claims on motive, particularly when made by a character who is conflicted. What is clear is that Severin's desire to be both her man and her slave is untenable because what she wants in the former is not seen in the latter. As the story unfolds, Severin is exposed to greater and greater challenges to his ability to maintain the façade of slave.
This novella, first published in 1870, is a bit slow-moving, particularly in the early part of the arc. However, it is an interesting study in psychology and how mismatched motives kill relationships. If it seems intriguing, read it, but it's not a premise everyone will find intriguing. Some will find it disturbingly kinky, though - it should be noted - others will find it far too tame and lacking in explicit sexuality for a book about an intimate relationship.
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