Venus in Furs

By: Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Fernanda Savage - translator, Matthew Kaiser - editor

Narrated by: Patrick Downer

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

If you've ever been curious about where the term "masochism" comes from, you will find it laden in the pages of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's masterpiece, Venus in Furs, for whom the term was named. Drawn in part from his own life experiences, Sacher-Masoch's novel develops an eroticism unlike any other. The book's protagonist, Severin, is so infatuated and obsessed with the object of his desire, Wanda, that he asks to be her slave. Although hesitant at first, Wanda's treatment of Severin becomes more and more depraved, fueling Severin's own desires for cruelty.

©2012 University Readers, Inc. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Great Classic Erotica, Terrible Narration

Would you try another book from the authors and/or Patrick Downer?

Author yes, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Voice no Patrick Downer. The short historical intro was very good!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved and hated them all :) The characters were great and terrible at the same time. the writing of this classic is amazing and to prose to die for.

What didn’t you like about Patrick Downer’s performance?

Whiny over acted voices. I had to buy a physical copy to make it through the text. this was one of the worse voice acting jobs I have heard. It was accurate and well pronounced but detracted from the story.

Do you think Venus in Furs needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

The author is dead!

Any additional comments?

Please rerecord this classic with another narrator and comp it to me over this rough version.

An Interesting Story About A Dominating / Submissive Relationship

This story is translated into modern conversational English and as such provides a good candidate for a listening experience. As literature I would call it an “easy read”. The subject matter is adult. However the story is not obscene. The primary form of dominance involves whips. I found it interesting that the term masochism is derived from the name of this author. There is a reference to the words “Venus in Furs” within “Ulysses” by James Joyce. Studying that put me on to this story. Thank You…

Wanda's position was understandable.

Severn was more than a bit of an ass, despite everything to do with his ardour. I found him positively annoying. Still, the novel does present some genuine insights into gender relations and the (at the time theoretical) notion of women's rights before these became recognized by law, to some degree.

Possibly one of the most annoying main character

good reading, historic novel, but gosh the protagonist is just the worst ever. I could have listened to something better.

I can only take so much....!

The story , a guy saying he wants to submit , could be wonderful if told in an interesting, realistic way which this is not. The reader was good but i have nobody to compare it with. Jeremy Irons read Lolita and anything is downhill after that, eh. I listened to Roth's 'Sabbath's Theater' and 'Venus in Furs' is so tame in comparison. After 3 hours of this i can't handle it anymore. It's written well enough i suppose but the guy, Gregor or whatever name he goes by, and his 'dominatrix' are so boring after 3 hours of conversation which goes 'no place'. They talk about submitting and dominating for 3 hours while doing neither. As long as they 'talk about submitting and being a slave' , and such talk , just remains 'talk'. Jabbering about the same thing in ridiculous language. I want to be your slave , no i don't yes i do. I want to dominate you no i don't yes i do. I'll die for you then good that means i can kill you if i want to. I didn't know you were this bad. I am not this bad oh i am this bad yes i am no i'm not yes you are no you aren't yes i am. There's nothing interesting about this. Both people, obviously, are as self absorbed and selfish and self centered as two people can get.

Why This Narrator?

This is supposed to be a book with a sense of humor. Why is it being narrated by an overly-serious, crackly-voiced whining man? And having him read the female parts in a slightly raised voice is funny in the wrong way. Impossible to get lost in this very interesting story.

Waste of time

What aspect of Patrick Downer’s performance would you have changed?

It was uncomfortable to listen to well-known celebrity voicing this type of content.

Any additional comments?

I can't imagine anyone being entertained by the content here

stupid and boring.

this was rediculous. I fast forwarded most of it, then deleted all together. Going from chapter to chapter, story never changed