Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

The controversial writings of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), an Austrian author and journalist, which addressed issues of power relations and sexuality, made him famous. His best-known work is the book Venus in Furs, which popularized the idea of masochism and had a profound effect on the formation of contemporary society. Born into an aristocratic family in Lemberg (now Lviv, Ukraine), Sacher-Masoch subsequently attended the University of Graz to study law and history. His poetry often mirrored his own issues with desire and power as he went on to work as a writer and editor. In addition to Venus in Furs, Sacher-Masoch also produced a large number of other books, novellas, and essays, the most autobiographical of which being The Confessions of Wanda von Sacher-Masoch. His works, which explored forbidden subjects and had an impact on contemporary society, were divisive in his day and are still contested and studied today. The word "masochism," which describes sexual pleasure gained from suffering pain or humiliation, has come to be associated with Sacher-Masoch.