Pleasure
Pleasure by Gabriele D’Annunzio, published by Penguin on July 30, 2013, is a new English translation of this Italian classic, originally published in 1898. This edition, comprising 384 pages, presents a narrative centered on Andrea Sperelli, a man who navigates the aristocratic circles of Rome, indulging in sensuality and seduction while challenging societal norms. The story intricately explores his relationships with two women, the alluring widow Elena and the innocent Maria, as he weaves a complex web of desire and manipulation.
Readers will find that this translation restores elements previously deemed too controversial for earlier versions, enhancing the novel’s reputation as a significant work of literary decadence. The text delves into themes of pleasure and morality, reflecting the psychological intricacies of its characters. This edition not only revitalizes D’Annunzio’s exploration of beauty and desire but also contributes to the ongoing discourse in classic literature, making it a noteworthy addition to the Penguin Classics collection.
Official synopsis Publisher
Putting the sex back in Pleasure, here is the first new English translation since the Victorian era of the great Italian masterpiece of sensuality and seduction
Like Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, Andrea Sperelli lives his life as a work of art, seeking beauty and flouting the rules of morality and social interaction along the way. In his aristocratic circles in Rome, he is a serial seducer. But there are two women who command his special regard: the beautiful young widow Elena, and the pure, virgin-like Maria. In Andrea’s pursuit of the exalted heights of extreme pleasure, he plays them against each other, spinning a sadistic web of lust and deceit.
This new translation of D’Annunzio’s masterpiece, the first in more than one hundred years, restores what was considered too offensive to be included in the 1898 translation—some of the very scenes that are key to the novel’s status as a landmark of literary decadence.
For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Pleasure” about?
Who is the author of “Pleasure”?
When was “Pleasure” published?
What is the ISBN for “Pleasure”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
