The Black Gondola and Other Stories

The 18 stories in this provocative collection from von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895) are all united thematically with his most famous work, Venus in Furs, in their depiction of men who are dominated by female lovers. Some, like “The Story of the Perpetual Student,” about a young fan endured by the older actor with whom he is infatuated, are wryly amusing, while others—including “The Mysterious Little Milliner,” in which a poor student becomes the plaything of a slumming countess—take a more dramatic approach. And several are ghoulish in their outcomes, among them “The Grave-Digger’s Daughter,” whose eponymous character discovers that a former lover whose corpse she is tasked with burying is still feebly alive. Daniel Corrick’s insightful introduction offers helpful historical context on von Sacher-Masoch’s writing. Connoisseurs of classic decadent literature will want to check this out.[em] (Aug.) [/em]