#adding Venus in Furs to my queer literature recommendation list

[hautaaja]

I could see myself serving him on bended knees, the tea tray wobbling in my hands, and I could see him reaching for the whip. Now the servants were talking about him. He was a man like a woman. He knew he was beautiful and behaved accordingly; he would change his coquettish attire four or five times a day, like a vain courtesan. In Paris he had appeared first in women's garb, and the men had stormed him with love letters. An Italian singer, famour equally for both his art and his passion, invaded the Greek's apartment, knelt down, and threatened to take his own life is his plea was not granted. 'I am sorry,' the Greek had responded with a smile. 'It would be my pleasure to fulfill your request, but you have no other choice than to carry out your death sentence, for I am—a man.'

from Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch