Les Liaisons dangereuses
by Pierre Choderlos de Laclosliterary work· published 1782
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Les Liaisons dangereuses (French: [le ljɛzɔ̃ dɑ̃ʒ(ə)ʁøz]; English: Dangerous Liaisons) is a French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu on 23 March 1782. It was initially translated into English in 1812 and has since been widely recognized as one of the most important early French novels. It is also considered one of the earliest and most famous examples of a roman à clef, written by Laclos as a thinly disguised takedown of the French aristocracy. It is the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two amoral lovers-turned-rivals who amuse themselves by ruining others and who ultimately destroy each other.
Adaptations (5)
Les Liaisons dangereuses has been adapted 5 times, across film and television series, from 1988 to 2024. The most recent is Cruel Intentions (2024).
Dangerous Liaisons1988 · film · 119 min · dir. Stephen Frears · IMDb ↗In 18th century France, Marquise de Merteuil asks her ex-lover Vicomte de Valmont to seduce the future wife of another ex-lover of hers in return for one last night with her. Yet things don’t go as planned.
Valmont1989 · film · 137 min · dir. Milos Forman · IMDb ↗Set in Baroque France, a scheming widow and her lover make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman. The lover, Valmont, bets that he can seduce her, even though she is an honorable woman. If he wins, he can have his lover to do as he will. However, in the process of seducing the married woman, Valmont falls in love.
Cruel Intentions1999 · film · 97 min · dir. Roger Kumble · IMDb ↗Slaking a thirst for dangerous games, Kathryn challenges her stepbrother, Sebastian, to deflower their headmaster's daughter before the summer ends. If he succeeds, the prize is the chance to bed Kathryn. But if he loses, Kathryn will claim his most prized possession.
Dangerous Liaisons2022 · television series · 49 min · IMDb ↗IMDb5.8A pair of scheming ex-lovers attempt to exploit others by using the power of seduction. TV adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' classic 18th Century novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses".
Cruel Intentions2024 · television series · IMDb ↗IMDb5.4At an elite Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, two ruthless step-siblings will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system at their school, they'll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing, the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.
