Quote Originally Posted by Mad Lews
I believe she was saying they were posted to her lover serially, this all took place in the late 40s early 50s before the story was published



That's a new one on me. Pauline Reage even refers to her lack of an ending and the two alternatives which she "allowed in a sentence" in her somewhat rambling introduction to " Return to the Chateau". I always felt she was attempting a symmetry when she offered two beginnings that weren't really a beginning and two endings that weren't really an ending.



I'd have to say the fact that the second book was published almost 2 decades after the first, might have a bit to do with the change in style and temperament. The affair that spawned the first book had most likely ended, and affairs of such passion rarely end well. The passage of two decades had changed Reage for better or worse. It is telling that she refers to her former self as a "Girl in Love" in her long-winded preamble.
Mad Lews

Yep I am an O-phille. Maybe checking an 'overliterate' (if there is such thing) but informative www.storyofo.co.uk will clear some of factual cunfusion on Dominic Aury (Reage).

Two ending are of course the same - O dissapears.

Maybe the fascination with O has something to do with style of writting. The softcore, let's call it veiled style allow some people to see it as almost gruesome whilt to other it's just a walk in the park. It's neither - why we just cannot leave it alone (the book, not O - who'd wanto to leave O alone?)
and take it at face value? It does not have to have any 'reasons' hiden meaning, motives etc. There was a story thant Simon De Bovoar (sic) wrote it to 'get back' o Sarte for treating her as piece of trash. Intelectual rubish!

What I'd like to know: is it possible that it was purely fantasy as Aury claims - response to a challenge 'women can't write good erotica' and a love letter of course. It's just too informed, rituals to worked out' etc. Or is it veceversa - so many thing coming from O? If so she really spoiled me in my budding youth!
Have fun!