Book description
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE - The captivating, deeply reported true story of how one of the most notorious novels ever written--Marquis de Sade's 120 Days of Sodom--landed at the heart of one of the biggest scams in modern literary history. "Reading The Curse of the Marquis de Sade, with the Marquis, the sabotage of rare manuscript sales, and a massive Ponzi scheme at its center, felt like a twisty waterslide shooting through a sleazy and bizarre landscape. This book is wild."--Adam McKay, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Described as both "one of the most important novels ever written" and "the gospel of evil," 120 Days of Sodom was written by the Marquis de Sade, a notorious eighteenth-century aristocrat who waged a campaign of mayhem and debauchery across France, evaded execution, and inspired the word "sadism," which came to mean receiving pleasure from pain. Despite all his crimes, Sade considered this work to be his greatest transgression. The original manuscript of 120 Days of Sodom, a tiny scroll penned in the bowels of the Bastille in Paris, would embark on a centuries-spanning odyssey across Europe, passing from nineteenth-century banned book collectors to pioneering sex researchers to avant-garde artists before being hidden away from Nazi book burnings. In 2014, the world heralded its return to France when the scroll was purchased for millions by Gérard Lhéritier, the self-made son of a plumber who had used his savvy business skills to upend France's renowned rare-book market. But the sale opened the door to vendettas by the government, feuds among antiquarian booksellers, manuscript sales derailed by sabotage, a record-breaking lottery jackpot, and allegations of a decade-long billion-euro con, the specifics of which, if true, would make the scroll part of France's largest-ever Ponzi scheme. Told with gripping reporting and flush with deceit and scandal, The Curse of the Marquis de Sade weaves together the sweeping odyssey of 120 Days of Sodom and the spectacular rise and fall of Lhéritier, once the "king of manuscripts" and now known to many as the Bernie Madoff of France. At its center is an urgent question for all those who cherish the written word: As the age of handwriting comes to an end, what do we owe the original texts left behind?
Polar Bee
Thanks to ListenBook's extensive statistics, I can track my audiobook consumption and celebrate my progress. 💡 This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! 📱👩🍳 ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's a true companion for all my literary adventures. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Feral Cookie
Unparalleled support for CarPlay and Apple Watch means I can take my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read – this app is always ready. 🎶📚 My new soundtrack? Audiobooks, of course! This app makes every day musical. 🎧🎶 Looping playback helps me immerse myself in the content. It's my secret study weapon.
X-Dew
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks – this app has converted me! Thanks to this app, I can enjoy the world of literature without missing a beat in my fast-paced life.
Impulse
ListenBook has transformed my mundane activities into enjoyable moments of learning and entertainment. The app is so intuitive. I didn’t even need to read the instructions.
Papa Smurf
ListenBook has elevated my audiobook enjoyment to a whole new level – it's a must-have for any audio enthusiast. 🚗 Turning road trips into unforgettable adventures – audiobooks keep me entertained on the journey! 🚗📖 Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections.
Kimono Goddess
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. Effortlessly enjoying audiobooks on the go – kudos to this app's functionality. I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Black Walnut
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my daily activities more seamless and convenient. This app's user-friendly interface has made audiobook listening a breeze, even for a tech novice like me. 🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Y0dler
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences – it's a fantastic touch. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. 🏝️ Basking in the sun with an audiobook – relaxation meets storytelling paradise! ☀️📖 This app is my audiobook haven. With a user-friendly interface and features like audio filters, I'm engrossed in stories like never before. 📖🔊 CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly.
Pearl Girl
I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content.
Dance Cannon
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. ListenBook's versatile features have made my audiobook experience more enjoyable than ever. I can't get enough of the smooth playback experience. It's like a symphony for my ears.
StorySculptor
ListenBook's multiple ways to download audio, including from the internet, are a game-changer. Tone adjustment is a thoughtful addition that adds a personal touch to the audiobook narration. It's like having a narrator tailor their voice to my preferences.
Pocket Mazda
I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly. With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. 🎶📚 Enriching my environment with the power of storytelling – audiobooks infuse my home with literary magic. 🎧🏠
ManManMan
I love that I can switch between fiction and non-fiction effortlessly. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. It's like having virtual bookshelves! The app is so responsive. It never lags or freezes. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Highlander Monk
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. This is exactly what I look for in an audiobook! The narrator's pleasant voice and excellent diction made even complex passages easy to follow. I appreciated the subtle but effective use of pauses and emphasis that added depth to the listening experience. Finished it in record time because I couldn't stop listening.
Coma Stalk
The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption – a fantastic way to measure my progress. Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. 🎉 Rekindling my literary flame – this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. 📖🚀 Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner. I appreciate the statistics feature. ListenBook helps me track my listening habits.
Muzish
ListenBook is the perfect blend of technology and art, turning audio into an unforgettable experience. 📱 An app that truly understands audiobook enthusiasts – it's all about functionality, and this app nails it! 📚💡 Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a winner. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Fuzzy Logic Hottie
I've found my new favorite way to relax – cuddled up with an audiobook. Navigating audiobooks effortlessly – this app's functionality is commendable. ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience. The customer support is amazing. They responded to my query within hours. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
DreadSherX
Audiobooks have made my workouts more enjoyable, and I'm seeing results! I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
ForumFusion
My commutes to work have transformed into exciting journeys thanks to this app. 🎙️ Turning grocery shopping into a thrilling audiobook hunt – what a game-changer! 🛒📚 Noise reduction in ListenBook Pro ensures crystal-clear playback even in noisy environments.
Sloth
The ListenBook app has become an indispensable part of my daily routine, helping me learn and relax simultaneously. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's thoughtful features, such as auto-rewind and chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our storytelling cravings. 🎉📚 The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience