This now classic book of erotica is, alongside Story of O, the most famous French underground novel of the late twentieth century and a work of seductive literary merit. Written by the wife of a diplomat in the French Foreign Service, it takes the form of an autobiographical novel, which it may or may not be. As the story opens, Emmanuelle is boarding a plane in London to rejoin her husband in Bangkok. She finds herself powerfully compelled by the overnight passenger seated beside her, and before she has landed, her irrepressible sensual nature has begun to open wide vistas of sexual possibility. As the novel continues, she moves easily from the waiting arms of her husband to intimacies with the wives of his business associates to further explorations and experiences in which the subtle aesthetics of eroticism are expounded-and enacted-to their fullest. Emmanuelle, which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since its initial clandestine publication in France, relates the movement of a woman from an unconscious to a profoundly conscious sexuality.
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Book Description
--This text refers to the
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Editorial Reviews
Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning imagery.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Emmanuelle (Paperback)
While some might find the frankness of the book's text shocking, Emmanuelle Arsan's infamous bestseller is rich in imagery and detail which still resonates brightly so many years after its initial publication.The story concerns a young Parisian who flies to Bangkok to join her diplomat husband. In a marriage which in the strictest sense might be termed "open," Emmanuelle struggles to conform to what she believes are her husband's wishes. She becomes entranced by an older man named Mario, whom she believes can teach her the "Secrets of Eros," and help her to become what she terms a "real woman." The real star of the book, however, is not the story, but the period philosophy which is so oft found throughout the book, and especially in the chapter "The Law." Love "scenes" are frequent, but are told with such subtle beauty and grace, that they never become unpleasant or gratuitous. "Emmanuelle" is without a doubt a classic of the genre.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Erotic well-written nonsense,
By A Customer
This review is from: Emmanuelle (Paperback)
Emmanuelle is rather a well written book and it has a certain charm. With any doubt it is nicely erotic in parts. There is lesbian sex and love which are arousing to read. There is also a reasonable feel for colonial French expats living a decadent life in South East Asia. The endless dialogue about love and fulfilment between Emmanuelle and Mario is, to an Anglo-Saxon at least, pretentious nonsense but I have to admit it is very much of the French psyche and is an acquired taste - I found it rather dull. I also found some parts laughable. If you read the first chapter and Emmanuelle's adventures on the aircraft it seems to me quite clear that Arsan must never have been flying except in her dreams. If you see it at a friend's, or are bored and need something to read then by all means try it an you will find enough to keep you interested. If you believe that there really is a philosophy of sex then this is a book for you. If not, then read it for the narrative and the love scenes which are erotic to be sure. Otherwise Anais Nin is really much more literary and artistic in the same genre.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rejoice,
By
This review is from: Emmanuelle (Paperback)
The sex scenes in this book are pretty good, if you are into that sort of thing. And most of the first half of the book is amusing, especially Emmanuelle's relationships with other women (sexual or not). But the second half of the book is dominated by Italian playboy Mario educating Emmanuelle about his philosophy of eroticism. This is pretty pretentious stuff, and rather dull. Mario almost makes sex seem boring. What a windbag! Also, the book ends rather abruptly. It feels like there was another chapter that got left out. But the book is worth a read, if only because it has become so iconic.
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