Les Diaboliques

First published in 1874 Les Diaboliques caused an uproar and all the copies were seized on the orders of the Ministry of Justice as the book was a danger to public morality. Scandal made the book an immediate success. One hundred and thirty years later it is now firmly established as a classic and studied in French schools. "The book is a celebration of the seven deadly vices and shows no counterbalancing interest in the seven cardinal virtues. Even more, it is a celebration of pride, the pride of the ancient aristocracy of evil. Those who have the style to carry off their vices have also the right to do so." Robert Irwin