Arguing that popular ideas of de Sade (1740-1814) and sadism are misrepresented stereotypes of his thinking, Traor矇 (PhD, French studies, U. of Minnesota) reads his writings as reflections of
Enlightenment era realities vs. ideals and warnings to future generations on how prejudice, injustice, hypocrisy, corruption and wickedness of the powerful create misfortune for the poor and
virtuous. Justine exemplifies the still-relevant sexual hypocrisy of the Church; Faxelage prefigures Freud's theory of dreams; and his views on virtue are comparable with those of 20th century
English peace activist George Lansbury in My Pilgrimage for Peace (1938). Annotation 穢2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
