Story of O

By: Pauline Reage

Narrated by: Käthe Mazur

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

O is a young, beautiful fashion photographer in Paris. One day her lover, René, takes her to a château, where she is enslaved, with René's approval, and systematically sexually assaulted by various other men. Later, René turns O over to Sir Stephen, an English friend who intensifies the brutality. But the final humiliation is yet to come.

©1965 Grove Press, Inc. (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A rare thing, a pornographic book well written and without a trace of obscenity." (Graham Greene)

A character study that is dismissed as pornography

WARNING #1: If you have never read Story of O, you will want to skip the introductory chapter and the essay "Happiness in Slavery" which comes afterwards. Skip to chapter 3, where Story of O begins, then when you are finished with the novel, come back to those introductory chapters as they give you important insights into the deeper meaning of the text.

Warning #2: If you have ever used the term "problematic" to describe erotica or erotic romance, this novel is not for you. The Story of O is erotica, not romance. It is interested, at least at the surface level, in taking us through a character's sexual awakening. BUT, beyond that is a book about a woman's dark descent until she is slowly stripped away into nothingness.

Story of O has more in common with de Sade's brand of erotica than it does mass market erotic romance where HFN or HEA are expected. This is a dark and twisted but also very clever novel. It is both a love letter written to the writer's lover at the time but also a novel that can viewed through a feminist lens. The narrator is almost like a detached naturalist observing O's descent. There are hints that the author is in no way advocating for women to completely submit to men. In fact, she shows the horrors of what becomes of O as she continuously gives up her agency in service to a man.

I expected dark erotica, and I got so much more. I did research into the author, and she was a famous and respected literary critic and essayist, and it shows. Story of O is a literary work that gives us dark insights into the psychology of power dynamics, how women choose to define themselves, and the stark reality of the libertine lifestyle. We get to watch O become more twisted as the story moves along until the horror of what she has become is apparent to others. The last chapter is subtly haunting in its imagery. Well done., Ms. Reage for giving your reader the unflinching portrait of the destruction of a woman disguised as an adoring love letter.

the story of O no

was okay the auther is known now wish the last chapter was on here but leaves it to your own imagination

Haunted and absolutely disturbing!

Wow, what a well written slave story that was shocking, erotic, and brazen. I can only say with absolute certainty that lifestyle is way beyond my compression and further I felt twisted internally by what O would have considered joyous and I found immensely sad. I only recommend this if you are prepared to be stricken by immense emotional upheaval. It's not for the faint of heart.

Very well done/read

The story itself is unique and interesting. BDSM is such a fluid concept despite the disciplines exacted in its lifestyle that to gain an insight into one person’s experience is thought provoking. The narrator I thought brought out the story in an exquisite way.

Sad and disturbing

The character deserves more feelings. I felt that O deserved a greater life. Was not a fan of the ending. The more I read it, the more I kept waiting that it will get better but nope. I don’t understand the point of a book like this. It’s like she existed, that’s it. O never really lived through the story, which is why it is sad.

Crazy, misguided, dangerous love

Still a better love story than "Twilight" or "50 Shades." Everyone who thinks those two "love stories" are good literature ought to elevate their game and read "Story of O." And remember: all the crazy stuff that happens in the book is fully consensual because it's all done out of love.

"Story of O" is a crazy love story. As in, no one would be so crazy as to love someone so much as to subject themselves to such torture. And yet, such is the case with O, the titular character, who allows herself to be subjugated the point where she has no name and is referred to only by that letter. While it's a well-written piece of literature, the characters are flat at best and unbelievable at worst. And then the story falls flat at the end, wrapping up in a matter that feels unsatisfying.

Wow

I cannot recommend this book enough. I will be purchasing a hard copy immediately. Phenomenal!

A twisted fate

A twisted nearly sadistic story of how far one is willing to go for “love”

"O" What a story

Would you consider the audio edition of Story of O to be better than the print version?

Yes. I tried to read the book and stopped by the 1st chapter

What other book might you compare Story of O to and why?

None.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening at the House

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes.

Darkness descends

Do not read chapter 1, it is the translator and there is a spoiler to the end of the book. The book actually begins on chapter 3 and they read both beginning's, as has two, but they do not read both endings, for it also has two, but they omit one.