Justine, Or, the Misfortunes of Virtue

Written during the Marquis de Sade's imprisonment in the Bastille, this early work explores themes of morality and virtue through the character of Justine. Unlike his later, more obscene writings, it presents a more restrained narrative. The book provoked strong reactions, notably from Napoleon Bonaparte, who deemed it "the most abominable book ever engendered by the most depraved imagination" and subsequently ordered Sade's arrest, leading to the author's final years of incarceration.