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Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos published *Les Liaisons dangereuses* in 1782, a year before the storming of the Bastille, yet his novel feels less like a period…

Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
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Runtime: 18 hr 46 min · Watch the full audiobook on YouTube · Subscribe to Ion Books

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos published *Les Liaisons dangereuses* in 1782, a year before the storming of the Bastille, yet his novel feels less like a period piece and more like a timeless study in human psychology. Written by a military engineer who viewed social interaction through the lens of strategy and fortification, the book transforms the epistolary form into a weapon. The narrative unfolds entirely through letters, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where every word is calculated and every silence speaks volumes. This structure invites the reader to become an active participant in the drama, piecing together truths from conflicting accounts and navigating the gap between public virtue and private vice. The correspondence reveals a world where seduction is not merely romantic but intellectual, a game of power played by those who believe they control the board. As you listen to the audiobook and read along with the text, consider how the medium shapes the message. The letters serve as both confessions and lies, blurring the line between authenticity and performance.

Summary generated by AI model Qwen 3

Public domain & narration

Dangerous Liaisons was first published in 1782. Works first published before 1931 are in the public domain in the United States, so the text is free to read, share and adapt. The edition shown here comes from Project Gutenberg, which publishes only books that are in the US public domain.

The narration is the LibriVox recording read by 12 volunteer readers, including Elizabeth Klett, Rhonda Federman and David Lawrence. LibriVox volunteers dedicate their recordings to the public domain.

Ion Books adds the synchronized scrolling text and video, so you can read along while you listen, for free.

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A slower-paced, warm-lit version of this audiobook on the IonNocturne channel — designed for bedtime listening, with the same scrolling text on a sleep-friendly palette.

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Chapters

  1. Chapter 1: Introduction and dramatis personae (14:45) · watch
  2. Chapter 2: Letters 01 to 05 (27:47) · watch
  3. Chapter 3: Letters 06 to 10 (34:05) · watch
  4. Chapter 4: Letters 11 to 15 (16:48) · watch
  5. Chapter 5: Letters 16 to 20 (19:49) · watch
  6. Chapter 6: Letters 21 to 25 (39:24) · watch
  7. Chapter 7: Letters 26 to 30 (17:47) · watch
  8. Chapter 8: Letters 31 to 35 (32:53) · watch
  9. Chapter 9: Letters 36 to 39 (20:50) · watch
  10. Chapter 10: Letters 40 to 45 (45:41) · watch
  11. Chapter 11: Letters 46 to 50 (21:36) · watch
  12. Chapter 12: Letters 51 to 55 (26:31) · watch
  13. Chapter 13: Letters 56 to 60 (21:46) · watch
  14. Chapter 14: Letters 61 to 65 (33:38) · watch
  15. Chapter 15: Letters 66 to 70 (24:28) · watch
  16. Chapter 16: Letters 71 to 75 (28:51) · watch
  17. Chapter 17: Letters 76 to 80 (58:44) · watch
  18. Chapter 18: Letters 81 to 84 (52:26) · watch
  19. Chapter 19: Letters 85 to 90 (47:45) · watch
  20. Chapter 20: Letters 91 to 95 (19:29) · watch
  21. Chapter 21: Letters 96 to 100 (1:07:31) · watch
  22. Chapter 22: Letters 101 to 105 (43:09) · watch
  23. Chapter 23: Letters 106 to 110 (40:31) · watch
  24. Chapter 24: Letters 111 to 115 (39:26) · watch
  25. Chapter 25: Letters 116 to 120 (18:19) · watch
  26. Chapter 26: Letters 121 to 125 (54:18) · watch
  27. Chapter 27: Letters 126 to 130 (27:32) · watch
  28. Chapter 28: Letters 131 to 135 (33:49) · watch
  29. Chapter 29: Letters 136 to 140 (29:22) · watch
  30. Chapter 30: Letters 141 to 145 (28:24) · watch
  31. Chapter 31: Letters 146 to 150 (26:05) · watch
  32. Chapter 32: Letters 151 to 155 (31:27) · watch
  33. Chapter 33: Letters 156 to 160 (14:41) · watch
  34. Chapter 34: Letters 161 to 165 (20:47) · watch
  35. Chapter 35: Letters 166 to 170 (21:48) · watch
  36. Chapter 36: Letters 171 to 175 (23:47) · watch

Full text

This work is too long to show on one page. Read it on Project Gutenberg · download ebook.txt

Sources

Raw pipeline data (admin)