Rating: 
Summary: Artfully and tastefully done.
Review: A well thought out erotic tale.Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch's 'Venus In Furs', is interesting though eccentric, and perverse though compelling. Besieged in wonder and suspense, the love affair between characters: Severin von Kusiemski and Wanda von Dunajew, becomes a roller coaster ride of desire and emotion. The obsessive fantasy to be enslaved and brutalized by the woman he loves becomes a cruel reality for poor old Severin. As beautiful Wanda slowly becomes thrilled and captivated by the notion of fulfilling her role in his fantasy, a role that previously made her shrug and laugh, she eventually transforms herself into the controlling dominatrix of Severin's dreams--by becoming more ideal at the sadomasochistic lifestyle than he had ever dreamed was possible. As Severin becomes the ever so content and happy slave, this tug-of-war between self-esteem and power begins to twist and turn with the innocent and deadly psychological games played out between the two. Written more than a hundred years ago, this psychodrama of love, bound by the perverted desires of one and the demon lying dormant within the other, was tastefully and artfully done.
Rating: 
Summary: The Classic that started it all
Review: Female Domination is a common lifestyle in the year 2005 but back in 1869 when Sacher-Masoch wrote this book, it was considered a perversion. In fact, the word "Masochist" comes from the name Sacher-Masoch when the German neurologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing classified Sacher-Masoch's sexual desire in his "Psychopathia Sexualis" in 1886.
Much more has been learned about the male desire to be in submission to women over the past century and a half and Female Domination is now practiced by couples all over the world. Elise Sutton in her book "Female Domination" draws a parallel to the increase of this male fantasy with the societal liberation of women. Now women are powerful and independent and more and more men are desiring to be the servants of women, both sexually and domestically. I wonder what Krafft-Ebing would think today if he saw the thousands of Internet sites dedicated to Female Domination?
I found "Venus in Furs" to be romantic, erotic and very well-written. It is a literary classic that will speak to men with masochistic and submissive desires for centuries to come. Wanda struggled with being in the dominant role (both the character in the book and the real life Wanda, Leopold's wife) in the latter half of the nineteenth century. But today in the twenty-first century, more women are accustomed to being in charge so the prospects of men with submissive desires are much better.
Rating:
Summary: A classic in erotic literature
Review: I bought this book not knowing at all what I was getting into, but it turned out to be a very cool read. Now I know where "masochism" comes from- the author of this book. This book aroused my imagination in many wonderful and sexy ways, it is filled with many lovely poetic words that portray a very erotic story of a guy who I believe to be very funny. Very enjoyable, I'd recommend it to lovemates.
Rating:
Summary: Way cool read man!
Review: I bought this book not knowing at all what I was getting into, but it turned out to be a very cool read. Now I know where "masochism" comes from- the author of this book. This book aroused my imagination in many wonderful and sexy ways, it is filled with many lovely poetic words that portray a very erotic story of a guy who I believe to be very funny. Very enjoyable, I'd recommend it to lovemates.
Rating:
Summary: surprised
Review: I must say that I was surprised when I began reading the book. I think I was expecting a trashy novella brimming with perversion but, instead, found a mostly exciting story about a man's bizarre expression of love. The story is well written and it didn't translate awkwardly or come across as monotonous or overbearing.
The part of the story that really communicated to me was how well Sacher-Masoch captured the attitude and demeanor of women.
Rating: 
Summary: 19th Century Pornography? No.
Review: One thing is for certain: you won't read very many books that tackle a topic such as this one. Leopold von Sacher-Masoch ended up lending his name to the sexual fetish known as S&M, due mainly to this book. "Venus in Furs" is a fictionalized account of Sacher-Masoch's own sexual peccadilloes. What is surprising about this book is when it was written. It was penned in the late 19th century, although the subject matter would seem more appropriate in our own decadent age. The book introduces us to Severin, who has an unusual sexual proclivity. He likes to be dominated by women. He wants to be an "anvil" to a woman's "hammer". This fetish involves becoming a slave to a woman, a process that is actually consummated by a written contract. Severin meets a young, gorgeous woman by the name of Wanda von Dunajew. Dunajew is a wealthy widow who quickly becomes attracted to Severin's intellectual abilities, and the two strike up a relationship. Severin immediately tries to get Wanda to indulge his fantasy, and most of the book details the evolution of this relationship. Severin becomes Wanda's servant, even taking the name Gregor at Wanda's insistence. Severin is forced to dress as a servant, and must take care of Wanda's needs at all times. Interspersed with Severin's hardships are episodes of kicking and whippings, as well as sexual relations. Severin can think of nothing more pleasurable than to be tortured by Wanda, not only physically, but mentally as well. When Wanda strikes up relationships with other men, Severin is thrust into the pits of despair/pleasure, as he is afraid of losing Wanda to somebody else. I won't spoil the ending for you, but it does involve some twists and turns that are somewhat interesting. The most important part of Severin's fantasy is that Wanda must wear furs while she tortures him. Why does Severin insist on furs? I suspect that it has something to do with the raw power of the animal world. In short, fur symbolizes natural power. This is what S&M is all about anyway. Love must be reduced to a power relationship, and some people really get off on that. If Sacher-Masoch were alive today, his Wanda would most likely wear Nazi paraphernalia or leather, which is the modern equivalent of the sort of power that Sacher-Masoch found in animal fur. Overall, this book really isn't my cup of tea. I'm not into S&M, so that part of the book doesn't appeal to me. I did enjoy the numerous descriptions of Wanda, with her red hair and green eyes. I love women with red hair and green eyes! This is a quick read at a little over 100 pages, but certainly not a book for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: 19th Century Pornography? No.
Review: One thing is for certain: you won't read very many books that tackle a topic such as this one. Leopold von Sacher-Masoch ended up lending his name to the sexual fetish known as S&M, due mainly to this book. "Venus in Furs" is a fictionalized account of Sacher-Masoch's own sexual peccadilloes. What is surprising about this book is when it was written. It was penned in the late 19th century, although the subject matter would seem more appropriate in our own decadent age. The book introduces us to Severin, who has an unusual sexual proclivity. He likes to be dominated by women. He wants to be an "anvil" to a woman's "hammer". This fetish involves becoming a slave to a woman, a process that is actually consummated by a written contract. Severin meets a young, gorgeous woman by the name of Wanda von Dunajew. Dunajew is a wealthy widow who quickly becomes attracted to Severin's intellectual abilities, and the two strike up a relationship. Severin immediately tries to get Wanda to indulge his fantasy, and most of the book details the evolution of this relationship. Severin becomes Wanda's servant, even taking the name Gregor at Wanda's insistence. Severin is forced to dress as a servant, and must take care of Wanda's needs at all times. Interspersed with Severin's hardships are episodes of kicking and whippings, as well as sexual relations. Severin can think of nothing more pleasurable than to be tortured by Wanda, not only physically, but mentally as well. When Wanda strikes up relationships with other men, Severin is thrust into the pits of despair/pleasure, as he is afraid of losing Wanda to somebody else. I won't spoil the ending for you, but it does involve some twists and turns that are somewhat interesting. The most important part of Severin's fantasy is that Wanda must wear furs while she tortures him. Why does Severin insist on furs? I suspect that it has something to do with the raw power of the animal world. In short, fur symbolizes natural power. This is what S&M is all about anyway. Love must be reduced to a power relationship, and some people really get off on that. If Sacher-Masoch were alive today, his Wanda would most likely wear Nazi paraphernalia or leather, which is the modern equivalent of the sort of power that Sacher-Masoch found in animal fur. Overall, this book really isn't my cup of tea. I'm not into S&M, so that part of the book doesn't appeal to me. I did enjoy the numerous descriptions of Wanda, with her red hair and green eyes. I love women with red hair and green eyes! This is a quick read at a little over 100 pages, but certainly not a book for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A classic in erotic literature
Review: This book has been a staple in many hedonists' librarys. It's one of the first, and best portraits of the sado-masochistic relationship, between a Woman and a man. You can not go wrong with an erotic book that's been around for nearly a century.
Rating:
Summary: Plausible historical novel
Review: This books rings strangely true. If you allow for the fact that it was written so long ago and in a different culture, it still seems like a plausible account of how a Mistress/slave relationship might have evolved at the time. There is even a negotiaion and a contract. This is the same thing you see in many similar real life, female dominant relationships today. ....
Rating:
Summary: Plausible historical novel
Review: This books rings strangely true. If you allow for the fact that it was written so long ago and in a different culture, it still seems like a plausible account of how a Mistress/slave relationship might have evolved at the time. There is even a negotiaion and a contract. This is the same thing you see in many similar real life, female dominant relationships today. ....
| 
