Venus in Furs (1870) is a novella by Austrian writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, first published as part of his proposed collection of short stories, The Legacy of Cain. Sacher-Masoch planned for the collection to detail his worldview, but he only completed the first two sections. The novella follows Severin von Kusiemski’s time with Wanda von Dunajew, a widow he meets at a health resort, and explores The Exploration of Sexual Power Dynamics, The Psychological Negotiation of Power and Submission, and The Influence of Societal Norms on Sexual Behavior. The narrative framing device allows Severin to advise his friend, the narrator, on a dream he had regarding Venus dressed in fur. Venus in Furs led to the development of the terms “sadomasochism,” by Sigmund Freud, and “masochism,” referring to those that derive sexual pleasure from pain. David Ives adapted the story for the stage under the title Venus in Fur in 2010, setting the story in New York City. Roman Polanski adapted Ives’s play into a film in 2012.

This guide uses the Public Domain Books Kindle eBook edition of the text, published May 17, 2012, and translated from German by Fernanda Savage.

Content Warning: The source text includes depictions of abuse and death by suicide. The novel uses many outdated and offensive terms for Black people, Jewish people, and women, as well as many racist and sexist ideas. A dominant trend in the novel involves the concept of enslavement and abuse of servants. Please note that the source text and this guide use the terms “master” and “slave” to refer to the voluntary dominant/submissive dynamic of the characters’ relationship.

Plot Summary

The narrator dreams of being taunted by the goddess of love, Venus, who is dressed in furs. He visits his friend Severin and notices he has a painting of himself lying at the feet of a woman dressed in furs who has her foot on him and a whip in her hand. The narrator remarks that this image is just like his dream, and Severin gives the narrator a copy of his manuscript, Confessions of a Supersensual Man, suggesting the narrator read it. The manuscript is about Severin’s life, detailing his affair with Wanda von Dunajew.

In the manuscript, Severin stays at an inn in the Carpathian Mountains, where a widow is staying as well. Severin worships a statue in the gardens of the goddess Venus, and he purchases a copy of Titian’s Venus with a Mirror, writing devotional poetry on its back. Severin lends his books to the innkeeper to give to the widow, realizing too late that he left the picture and poem in the book. He hears the widow laughing, and he finds the statue of Venus in the garden wearing furs. The statue seems to come to life, chasing and laughing at Severin.

Severin and the widow begin talking. Severin explains that he has always been sensitive but resistant to beauty, noting how his aunt once whipped him while wearing furs. In college, Severin had a girlfriend who left him for another man, making Severin think that women are incapable of monogamy. Severin wants a woman who is a demon, hurting him and tormenting him forever. Wanda does not like this idea, preferring to be dominated by a man she cannot resist. Wanda believes people should pursue pleasure, and she does not think monogamous relationships can last.

Severin asks Wanda to marry him, but Wanda can only promise to love Severin for two months. Severin says he wants to become Wanda’s “slave,” and they agree to act as though Wanda is Severin’s “master” for one year, at the end of which they will decide whether they want to marry. Wanda begins torturing Severin, always wearing furs and whipping him. They decide to move to Florence, where such a relationship will be less noticeable. Wanda asks Severin to sign a contract agreeing to become her property, but Severin resists because he fears Wanda might have another man hurt him.

In Florence, Wanda starts calling Severin “Gregor,” and Severin is shocked by how intense Wanda’s abuse becomes. Though they both periodically remind each other that they are in love, Wanda causes Severin anguish by flirting with other men. Wanda has other servants, including Haydee, help with torturing Severin, who both enjoys and despairs over Wanda’s abuses. Wanda begins an affair with a German painter, who agrees to paint the scene of Wanda with a whip in her hand and a foot on Severin. During painting, the painter asks that Wanda whip him, too, and Severin sees the painter becoming obsessed with Wanda. When the painting is finished, the painter leaves with a sketch of Wanda’s face.

Wanda confesses to Severin that she no longer loves him, telling him he can leave whenever he wishes. Wanda begins an affair with Alexis Papadopolis, a Greek man with a feminine face and a brutal demeanor. When Alexis treats Severin as a servant and seems to be dominating Wanda, Severin worries that Wanda will leave him. Severin writes Wanda a letter telling her she is “cheap” and saying he is leaving. Severin realizes he has no money, tries to die by suicide, and returns to Wanda’s home in shame. Severin is ignored by all members of the house as Alexis and Wanda grow closer.

When Alexis leaves in a rage one day, Severin approaches Wanda, objecting to her thoughts of marrying Alexis. Severin threatens to kill Wanda, which Wanda sees as masculine, renewing her love for Severin. After spending a day in town, Severin returns to find Wanda in her room, and Wanda says she still wants to whip Severin. After tying Severin to a post, Wanda brings in Alexis, giving him a whip and calling Severin a fool. Alexis whips Severin severely, then Alexis and Wanda leave. Severin returns to his home, cares for his dying father, and takes over his family’s estate. Wanda sends Severin the painting and a letter three years later, hoping she cured Severin’s desire to be abused and wishing him well.

The narrator is confused by Severin’s story. Severin argues that one must either be the abuser or the abused in every relationship, lamenting that he did not beat Wanda into submission. However, Severin says that all manner of people, including violent women and weak men, are part of humanity.