Fifty Shades Of Grey is a millions-selling smash – so Rescu. has put together a list of literary alternatives for those who want more…
The popularity of the multi-million selling erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey is a great thing. It explores consent, bondage, domination and submission, power play and pain in a public forum, allowing millions of people to understand what’s often a ‘hidden’ or ‘taboo’ part of sexuality.
However, it has problems. For one, the main essence of the story is that the lead male desires BDSM because he has ‘issues’ – which is neither realistic nor fair.
For another, it’s just not very well written.
However, its popularity proves that women are hungry for boundary-pushing erotic fiction – so if you’re looking for a more elegantly crafted tale, Rescu. is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of erotic classics for readers who want their BDSM with a little more finesse.
(Note: many of these are quite hardcore, so if you’d rather have something softer, explore your local bookstore.)
The Story Of O by Pauline Reage
This is the best-selling of all BDSM-related novels; it was made into a film in the 1970s, and obscenity charges and lawsuits threatened its publication, but it came out regardless. It’s the story of a beautiful French fashion photographer who is made a slave to a man called Sir Stephen, with her permission.
The book is very graphic, but ground-breaking in its portrayal of domination and submission – and it also places emphasis on consent. The novel won the prestigious Prix des Deux Magots in France, and has never been out of print.
Delta of Venus and Little Birds by Anais Nin
When Anais Nin was a struggling author, she and a few other now well-known writers, including Henry Miller, were commissioned by a mysterious wealthy patron known only as ‘The Collector’ to write him erotic fiction for his personal use. Delta of Venus and Little Birds were Nin’s contributions.
They’re short stories dealing with all sorts of topics, some of which are incredibly taboo, but are considered masterpieces of writing about women.
Justine or The Misfortunes Of Virtue by the Marquis De Sade
If you’ve seen Quills, you’ll know the Marquis de Sade – a French libertine arrested and imprisoned for all manner of salacious acts. He’s most famous now, of course, for his namesake, sadism: the cause of pain to others for one’s own pleasure. It’s the ‘S’ in BDSM, so of course his fiction is one of the classics.
De Sade wrote a great deal in prison, but he’s most remembered for his erotic work, which contemplates just how fun ‘sinning’ is: his four most famous works are Justine, Juliette, 120 Days Of Sodom and Philosophy Of The Boudoir. Justine and Juliette, stories of women who commit total depravities, are the two most popular now, and as he’s often studied in universities copies are easy to obtain.
Venus In Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
Venus In Furs is one of the most influential erotic books ever written, has been adapted to film five times and inspired a Velvet Underground song. You don’t get more cultural pedigree than that.
Just as sadism is derived from the Marquis de Sade, masochism – the act of obtaining pleasure from being dominated – is derived from Sacher-Masoch’s name. Venus in Furs is the story of a man who wants to become the slave of his lover Wanda; it’s one of the first dominatrix stories. Astonishingly, it was published in 1870, but it’s still fresh and relevant today.
These are all 18+ reading, so keep away from kids!
Lady Friday xx
Taking the pillow talk out of the bedroom, every Friday…
