Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch (January 27, 1836–March 9, 1895), writer and journalist, was born in Lemberg, Austria-Hungary (now L'viv, Ukraine). He was the son of the police director in Lemberg and Charlotte von Masoch, a Ukrainian lady of noble birth. He started learning German at age 12.

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He had planned to write a series of six novels under the collective title The Heritage of Cain: only the first two were ever completed, of which Venus in Furs is the most famous. (Venus im Pelz is the original title in German). This novel tells of a man, Severin, so besotted with a woman, Wanda, that he requests to be treated as her slave, and encourages her to treat him in progressively more degrading ways. Severin describes his feelings during these experiences as supersensuality.

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At the end of the book, Severin ceases to desire to submit, stating that men should dominate women until the time when women are equal to men in education and rights: an ending that can be viewed as both misogynist and feminist.

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The novel closely parallels events in Sacher-Masoch's own life.

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The word masochism was coined by the 19th century psychiatrist Krafft-Ebing with Sacher-Masoch and his writings in mind.

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He died in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.

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The lyrics of The Velvet Underground song "Venus in Furs" refer to this book.

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A 1994 black and white film called Venus in Furs is based on the 1869 classic novel, but is set in modern times. The film was directed by Maartje Seyferth and Victor E. Nieuwenhuijs, and received an award at the 1994 international film festival of Saint Petersburg, Russia.

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In the 1998 Todd Haynes film Velvet Goldmine, main character Brian Slade's backing band is called "Venus in Furs".

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January 27: January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 338 days remaining (339 in leap years)....

1836: 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar)....

March 9: March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). There are 297 days remaining....

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch related Images and Photos (experimental)

Leopold Lion	Leopold Th Cat	Jordan Leopold	Kat Von D
Leopold II King of Belgium	Leopold I King of Belgium	Max von Sydow	Dita Von Teese
T.T. von Bern c.1938	Leopold Vi Entering Vienna 1219	Ernst Von Schuch	Prince Leopold Duke of Albany