46 pages • 1 hour read
Venus in Furs
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
156
Novel • Fiction
Europe • 1870s
1870
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Severin von Kusiemski meets a widow, Wanda von Dunajew, at a health resort and enters into a consensual dominant/submissive relationship where Wanda becomes his "master" and he her "slave," exploring complex sexual power dynamics, submission, and societal influences on behavior. Includes depictions of abuse and death by suicide.
Mysterious
Romantic
Unnerving
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
15,405 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch is a provocative exploration of desire and power dynamics. Critics commend its daring themes and psychological depth, but some find its pacing uneven and the protagonist unsympathetic. Overall, it remains a compelling and controversial study of human sexuality.
Who Should Read Venus in Furs?
Readers who are intrigued by themes of sensuality, power dynamics, and psychological exploration will enjoy Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and The Story of O will appreciate its pioneering look into BDSM relationships and the complexities of desire and domination.
15,405 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
156
Novel • Fiction
Europe • 1870s
1870
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.