Story of O

This article is about the novel. For the 1975 film, see Story of O (film). For the film sequel, see Story of O: Chapter 2.

Story of O
Cover of the 1962 edition
AuthorPauline Réage
LanguageFrench
GenreErotic novel
PublisherJean-Jacques Pauvert
Publication date
1954
Publication placeFrance
Media typePrint

Story of O (French: Histoire d'O, IPA: [istwaʁ do]) is an erotic novel written by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Réage, with the original French text published in 1954 by Jean-Jacques Pauvert.

Desclos did not reveal herself as the author until 1994, 40 years after the initial publication. Desclos stated she wrote the novel as a series of love letters to her lover Jean Paulhan,[1] who had admired the work of the Marquis de Sade. The novel shares with the latter themes such as love, dominance, and submission.

  1. ^ Bedell, Geraldine (24 July 2004). "I wrote the story of O". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 March 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.