Les liaisons dangereuses

Les liaisons dangereuses

Lettres recueillies dans une Société et publiées pour l'instruction de quelques autres

Choderlos de Laclos (1741-1803)

Approximate level
B2
Length
162,670 words
Reading time
13 h 33 min
Chapters
179
Language
French
On Project Gutenberg since
2016

This epistolary novel from the late eighteenth century explores the intricate social games and moral corruption of the French aristocracy. Reading this book is a demanding exercise because the language reflects the formal and sophisticated style of the Enlightenment era. You will encounter complex sentence structures and a vocabulary focused on social status, manners, and philosophical irony. It is an excellent choice if you wish to study how French was used to convey subtle manipulation and refined wit in a historical context.

2,232 downloads on Project Gutenberg

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Subjects

  • Epistolary fiction
  • France -- Fiction
  • Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
  • Aristocracy (Social class) -- Fiction
  • Seduction -- Fiction
  • Mock-heroic literature

Questions about this book

What level of French do I need for this book?

The estimate is B2, based on how common the words are and how long the sentences run. It is an approximation, not a test result. With a translation under every sentence you can start one level earlier than you would with a paper copy.

Is this book really free?

Yes. The text is in the public domain and comes from Project Gutenberg, so it costs nothing. In Lingo7 you open the book and read the first page for free; a subscription unlocks the whole library, the audio and the word practice.

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How long does it take to read?

About 13 h 33 min at a native pace, spread over 179 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.

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Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain.