Dangerous ties

The satirical novel about the morals of the French aristocracy was written using the epistolary style and frivolity characteristic of the time, with a moralizing punishment of vice at the end. In total, the novel consists of 175 letters, the first of which is dated August 3 , and the last - January 14 . According to the assurances of Chauderlo de Laclos, the correspondence is genuine, his participation is limited only by editorial work, which he informs the reader in the “Preface of the editor”.

Immediately after the publication of the novel, the novel gained popularity, the first edition (2000 copies) was sold out within a month, followed by a reprint, which in 1782-1783 was accompanied by about fifty counterfeit publications of the novel. ^[1] In 1823, Dangerous Liaisons in France were sentenced by a criminal court conviction to destruction “for insulting morality,” and were confiscated from booksellers in 1825.

In Russia, the novel was first published in Russian in 1804 - 1805 ^[3] under the title “Harmful Acquaintances, or Letters Collected by One Society to Prevent Others,” translated by A. I. Levanda ^[4] (without specifying the names of the author and translator ) Then, in 1930 - 1933, translated by N. E. Efros with his introduction and editorial staff. ^{[1] [3]} In 1965, the novel was translated by N. Ya. Rykova , with her afterword and notes. Subsequently, the novel in Soviet times was repeatedly published in the USSR with the aim of acquainting readers with the monument of world literature and, moreover, discrediting the moral character of the "exploiting classes", as it paints a vivid picture of the decay of an aristocratic society on the eve of the French Revolution . ^{[1] [3] [2]} In modern Russia, the novel is also reprinted several times, including under the same cover as Abon Prevost ’s Manon Lesko .

Madame de Wolange takes her daughter Cecile from the monastery, where she was raised to marry Count de Gercourt. The former mistress of Jercourt, once offended by him, the Marquise de Merteil, wanting revenge on the offender, plans to seduce the bride in order to defame the count and make him the laughing stock in society. In carrying out his plans, the Marquis resorts to the help of his friend, the famous heartthrob Viscount de Valmont. Valmont and the Marquise were once lovers, but now they are only bosom friends. To argue with the Marquise, Valmont agreed to seduce an innocent girl, but he himself would fall in love with a devoted married lady, whom she would abandon because of the word given to the marquise. Soon he will die in a duel with the young Danseny, who fell in love with Cecile. After the death of Valmont, the Marquis herself will lose her beauty and charm due to smallpox and will lose all her privileges in society. In the book, the Marquise and Valmont represent evil, which, naturally, is defeated by good.

• Cecile de Wolange - A pupil of the monastery. Rich heiress, 60 thousand livres of income.
• Sophie Carne is Cecily Volange’s girlfriend at the monastery. Destination Cecily. In the action of the novel does not participate.
• Marquise de Merteuil
• Viscount de Valmont
• Count de Gercourt - former lover of the Marquise de Merteuil, groom of Cecily
• Presidential de Tourvell
• Madame de Wolange - mother of Cecily
• Chevalier Danseny - Cecily music teacher
• Azolan - servant of viscount de Valmon, huntsman
• Madame de Rosmond - Aunt Valmont

The British Encyclopedia considers Laclos to be among the first examples of a psychological novel . ^[5]

The writer Stendhal considered this novel the most significant work of French literature of the XVIII century . ^{[2] [3]}

A literary critic, theater critic and theater critic S. S. Mokulsky in an article about Laclos in the " Literary Encyclopedia " called the novel "one of the most remarkable works of the XVIII century." He pointed out that “French criticism has long neglected this novel, ranking it in the category of immoral and almost pornographic books,” believing that “there was a lot of hypocrisy and hypocrisy in this neglect, because, in his opinion,“ “Dangerous ties” - an unusually vivid and truthful picture of the everyday decay of an aristocratic society at the end of the 18th century. ” As for the main character - Viscount de Valmont - he notes that this is a “peculiar variation of the Don Juan type , degenerated in the conditions of life of the social-parasitic class into the type of a refined-evil, conceited and shameless debauchery ( English roué ), the meaning of which is in the corruption of women. " Mosulsky concludes that the author of the novel "masterfully outlined the psyche of this predator, as well as its victims." ^[one]

The literary critic I. A. Lileeva in articles about Laclos in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia and the Brief Literary Encyclopedia noted that the novel “gives a vivid picture of the decomposition of an aristocratic society on the eve of the revolution, images of the cruel depraved Viscount de Valmont and the cynical marquise de Mertei, killed the gullible girl. " ^{[2] [3]}

• Dangerous Liaisons / Dangerous Liaisons ( 1959 , dir. - Roger Vadim ).
• Faithful Woman / Une femme fidèle ( 1976 , dir. - Roger Vadim ).
• Dangerous Liaisons / Dangerous Liaisons ( 1988 , dir. - Stephen Frears ).
• Valmont ( 1989 , dir. Milos Forman ).
• Cruel Intentions / Cruel Intentions ( 1999 , Roger Kamble ).
• Dangerous Communications / Les liaisons dangereuses ( 2003 , mini-series, dir. Jose Diane ).
• The Hidden Scandal / Untold Scandal ( 2003 , dir. Jae-yong Lee ).
• Dangerous Liaisons / Dangerous Liaisons ( 2012 , dir. Jin-ho Ur ).
• The game of love: the great seducer / 러브 게임 - 위대한 유혹 (2018, dir. Kang Ying)

• Laclos C. de. Dangerous communications, or Letters collected in one private circle of people and published as edification to some others S. de L. / Per. with fr. N. Ya. Rykova . - M. - L .: Nauka , 1965 .-- 359 p. - ( Literary monuments ). - 15,000 copies.

• Lukov V. A. Dangerous communications (novel by P. Chauderlo de Laclos) // French literature from its origins to the beginning of the Newest period / Comp. and holes ed. prof. Vl. A. Lukov .