Les Liaisons dangereuses

Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) is a famous French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, first published in 1782.

Plot

The Vicomte de Valmont is determined to seduce the virtuous (and married) Madame de Tourvel, who is living with Valmont's aunt while Monsieur de Tourvel is away for a court case. At the same time, the Marquise de Merteuil is determined to corrupt the young Cécile de Volanges, whose mother has only recently brought her out of a convent to be married to a former lover of Merteuil. Cécile falls in love with the Chevalier Danceny, and Merteuil and Valmont pretend to want to help the secret lovers in order to use them in their schemes.

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Merteuil promises Valmont that if he seduces Mme de Tourvel, she will spend the night with him. He expects rapid success, but does not find it as easy as his many other conquests. During the course of his pursuit, he discovers that Cécile's mother has written to Mme de Tourvel about his bad reputation. He revenges himself by helping Merteuil pervert Cécile. Merteuil also takes Danceny as a lover.

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By the time Valmont has succeeded in seducing Mme de Tourvel, it is clear he has fallen in love with her. Jealous, Merteuil tricks him into breaking with Mme de Tourvel—and reneges on her promise of spending the night with him. Merteuil and Valmont declare war on each other. Valmont prompts Danceny to reunite with Cécile, abandoning Merteuil. In response, Merteuil exposes to Danceny that Valmont seduced Cécile.

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Danceny and Valmont duel. Valmont is fatally wounded, but before he dies he is reconciled with Danceny, giving him the letters proving Merteuil's own involvement. Two of these are sufficient to ruin her health and her reputation, and she flees the country. But the innocent still suffer: hearing of Valmont's death, Mme de Tourvel succumbs to a fever, while Cécile returns to the convent.

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