Justine (book)

Justine was a book written by Marquis de Sade in the 18th century. The original manuscript was called The Misfortunes of Virtue. Whilst de Sade thought that he had destroyed the only copies of the first version, Catherine Arouette was able to obtain one and adapted it for a play.

The story followed a character called Sophie who led a difficult life in which her abusers were rewarded for their sins whilst she, remaining virtuous to the end, is killed when she is struck by lightning. The villains were Dalville and Bressac. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask)

Behind the scenes

Marquis de Sade published multiple editions of Justine throughout his life. The last was accompanied by a continuation, Juliette; both The Man in the Velvet Mask and The Adventuress of Henrietta Street depicted de Sade with a girl named Juliette: Juliette Picard and Juliette Vierge, respectively.