Morfydd Clark

This was a free download from Audible read by the cast of the stage play (Edit: I guess that's obvious from the subtitle of the book above). If you have a couple hours of free time to listen, I recommend this one.

The Marquise de Merteuil, despite her virtuous reputation, has used and discarded many men in her day, and she takes it lightly when one of her lovers gives her up for another woman. When she learns that a former lover intends to marry Cécile de Volanges, fifteen-year-old convent-educated daughter of the Marquise's own cousin, she recognizes a perfect opportunity for revenge: a scandal revealing that the supposedly virginal bride was in fact a debauched wanton! Madame de Merteuil turns to another former lover, now her friend and faithful correspondent, the Vicomte de Valmont. Unlike the Marquise, seduction is his favorite game, reveling in the scandal that follows in his wake. Madame de Merteuil asks him to turn his attentions to Cécile while her betrothed is away at war. de Valmont has another target in mind, however. The Présidente de Tourvel, a prominent judicial officer, is away on business for several months, and his wife, a woman celebrated for her piety and chastity, has come for an extended visit to Valmont's aunt. It is Valmont's intention not merely to seduce this virtuous beauty, but to torment her with the desires he arouses in her! The Marquise is disappointed at his refusal and cynical about his new project, but never discouraged: after all, young Cécile has already formed a bit of an attachment to a man who is not her intended husband, and all she needs now is the "right" advice to push her, heedless down the path of dalliance.

The web of "Danger Liaisons" in which the characters find themselves ensnared is even more tangled than simple words convey. Thankfully, it's not difficult to keep track of the ever-shifting relationships as the plot unfolds. A collection of letters between the characters in a scandalous series of events allows intimate access to their thoughts and motivations. At the same time, the reader has far more insight into what's going on than any character does, but in the end, this intimate understanding of the characters is based entirely how they choose to present themselves. With the possible exception of Valmont's aunt, every character is a master of manipulation and deception.

The Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont are two of the most loathsome creatures in fiction. The Marquise and the Vicomte are supreme players of the game, casual destroyers of lives, unashamed of their pride, proud of their shamelessness, and perfectly matched. They encourage, assist, scold, flatter, belittle, and devastate each other. It becomes clear that the real sexual power struggle is between these two, and everyone else is a pawn in their game.

"Les Liaisons dangereuses" is entertaining and thought-provoking, brilliantly constructed, wholly natural, and deeply painful.… (mehr)