
A deftly crafted exchange of letters draws you into the glittering yet treacherous world of late‑18th‑century French aristocracy. Through intimate missives, the characters reveal their ambitions, desires, and the subtle art of persuasion that governs their social games. The epistolary format lets listeners hear each voice directly, as if eavesdropping on private confidences.
At the heart of the correspondence are a charismatic young vicomte and a brilliant, calculating marquise whose rivalry fuels a cascade of intrigue. Their exchanges with the virtuous president of a charitable society, the innocent Cécile, and other members of their circle expose a tangled web of love, jealousy, and manipulation. The letters balance wit, vulnerability, and sharp observation, inviting you to judge motives while feeling the tension of every concealed intention.
The prose is elegant and witty, capturing the cadence of 18th‑century French salons while remaining accessible. Listening feels like turning pages of a scandalous diary, offering a vivid portrait of human folly and the timeless allure of secret correspondence.
Full title
Les liaisons dangereuses, volume 2 (of 2) or, Letters collected in a private society and published for the instruction of others
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (394K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Privately printed, 1898.
Credits
Adam Buchbinder, Eleni Christofaki and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2023-01-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1741–1803
Best known for Les Liaisons dangereuses, he brought a cool, sharp intelligence to one of literature’s most unsettling novels. His mix of military discipline and psychological insight helped create a story that still feels startlingly modern.
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