Jean de Berg - The Image and other Classic French Stories of Submission - 1956-1992

This short novel caused a scandal upon its publication in 1956.
One of the most acclaimed and famous erotic novels of all time - and one of only five erotic novels credited with true literary status by Susan Sontag, it is a tale of bondage, dominance and submission in the tradition of 'The Story of O' The narrator, Jean, is assisted by Claire in the domination of the subservient Anne in a series of sexually explicit scenarios. Like O, 'The Image' is ultimately a potent and bizarre love story.

Like 'Story of O', the novel became emblematic of Mid-Century Modernist erotica. In the process of postwar recovery and still possessing much of its colonial empire, France was a hub of high culture, fashion, and commercial success. Along with heightened national pride and disposable income, France returned to its tradition of creating challenging experimental work and nurturing its aesthetic avante-garde.

Rumours circulated that none other than Alain Robbe-Grillet, one of the leading figures of the Nouveau Roman*, was hiding behind the mysterious pseudonym "Jean de Berg." In reality, it was his wife Catherine who told the story of the beautiful Claire and her erotic fantasies.

*Nouveau Roman, or "new novel," refers to a French avant-garde literary movement from the 1950s and 1960s that challenged traditional novelistic elements like plot, linear narrative, and character development. Instead of focusing on traditional realism, these authors experimented with form, de-emphasized psychological depth, and used meticulous, objective descriptions to question the nature of reality.

This is the last novel Susan Sontag discussed in her essay, “The Pornographic Imagination.” Along with 'Story of the Eye' and 'Story of O', Sontag considers 'The Image' to be a pornographic novel that has literary merit.

Along with 'The Image' there are two further erotic stories taken from 'Les Ecarlates' by Juan Muntaner in this edition.

This edition contains a new translation of the original text, and a preface by Pauline Reage, the author of 'The Story of 0'.

The cover has very few signs of wear and the pages inside are in great condition. All deficiencies are visible in the photos.