Book 1, The Marquis : Chapter 1, The Marquis Himself Summary

Although this book is primarily a showcase for the author's work, it has also been devised so that it can serve as a textbook. The book has been assembled so that this particular Marquis de Sade can be marketed as a personality, greatly enhancing the charm available for promoting his writings. The scholars explain at the very opening of the book that the Marquis was not a popular author during his own lifetime. Of writers who are not popular during their lifetimes, most of those who became more famous after their deaths had self-published their books and pamphlets, or found some way for their works to get out.

The real reason there are 3 novels packaged together is that adjustments have been made to suit present-day conventions. Two of these are 'mere'...