Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos
Les Liaisons Dangereuses is the English translation of a French novel that was considered shocking in its time. It consists entirely of a series of letters, primarily between the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, a prostitute and a former lover whose hobby it is to invade the lives of innocent persons and destroy them. There are also a number of letters to and from their victims, in this case a married woman and a 15-year-old girl just out of a convent school. The woman's husband is away on business, and the girl is supposed to be married to a much older man, but finds herself attracted to a young man in his 20s.
It's a bit hard at first to keep track of all the different characters, but it soon becomes apparent that the two main protagonists will stop at nothing to seduce and debase their chosen targets. Their letters to each other boast of their progress and constantly challenge each other to push harder. Letters to and from the victims are included, as are letters between those victims who are acquainted with each other. The point of the novel seems to be the complete lack of morals of the Marquise and the Vicomte. It doesn't end well for any of the characters.
The book is the basis for the movie "Dangerous Liaisons" starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich.
