It is possible that Laclos began writing his most famous work,

[

], in 1778. He was certainly engaged on the drafting of the novel while working on the fortifications of the island of Aix (off the west coast of France) in 1779. To aid the composition of his novel, he was on leave in Paris in 1780 and 1781 where he began moves to have his work published. The first edition of the novel appeared in 2000 copies between 7 and 10 April 1782, with a contract for a second printing with an identical number of copies signed on 21 April.

Laclos’s masterpiece is a novel of deception and self-deception. Through its one hundred and seventy-five letters, it illustrates the power of language in high society, its use and abuse. The connections implied by the

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Citation: Davies, Simon. "Les Liaisons dangereuses". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 February 2019 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4027, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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