| a Rens DEATH & SENSUALITY GEORGES BATAILLE Translated by Mary Dalwood ea CITY LIGHTS BOOKS SAN FRANCISCOThis book was originally published as L’Erotisme, ©1957 by Les Editions de Minuit, Paris. ‘The first edition in English was published under the title Death and Sensuality: a Study of Eroticism and the Taboo, ©1962 by Georges Bataille, Walker and Company, NY. First City Lights edition, 1986 Cover: Detail of Bernini’s Saint Theresa and the Angel Rome, 8, Maria della Vitoria Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bataille, Georges, 1897-1962, Erotism: death and sensuality ‘Translation of: L'erotisme. Reprint. Originally published: New York : Walker, 1962. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Sex—Religious aspects 2. Sex (Psychology) 3. Taboo. 4. Death. I. Title HQ61.B3813 1986 306.7 86.9755 ISBN 0-87286- 190-2 (pbk.) Visit our website: wwwzcitylights.com CITY LIGHTS BOOKS are edited by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and ‘Nancy J. Peters and published at the City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133. CONTENTS FOREWORD 7 INTRODUCTION n Part One ‘TABOO AND TRANSGRESSION Chapter I _Eroticism in inner experience a Chapter Il The link between taboos and death é Chapter III Taboos related to reproduction 8) Chapter IV Affinities between reproduction and death 55 Chapter V__ Transgression a Chapter VI. Murder, bunting and war i Chapter VII. Murder and sacrifice 8r Chapter VII From religious sacrifice to eroticism 89 Chapter IX Sexual plethora and death a Chapter X__Transgression in marriage and in orgy 109 Chapter XI Christianity 117 Chapter XII The object of desire: prostitution 129 Chapter XIII Beauty Part Two SOME ASPECTS OF EROTICISM Chapter 1 Kinsey, the underworld and work 149 Chapter II De Sade’s sovercign man 164 Chapter IIL De Sade and the normal man 77 Chapter IV The enigma of incest 197 Chapter V-Mysticism and sensuality 221 Chapter VI. Sanctity, eroticism and solirude 252 Chapter VII__ A preface to ‘Madame Edwarda’ 265 ‘CONCLESION 273, BIBLIOGRAPHY 277 INDEX 279220 THE ENIGMA OF 1 Nogs: sister, slowly passes on to the i ec wife, now a mothe ftrte of marrage endbles mm to Eve @ hutan Lie aia respect for taboo contrasts with the untrammelled sails tion of animal needs. oe CHAPTER V MYSTICISM AND SENSUALITY ‘From the breadth of the modem Christian attitude to the “fear of sex” People who are interested to a greater or lesser extent in tne problems arising from mystical experience, that ultimate in human potentialities, now of the remarkable review Thown as the Etudes Garmélitaines edited by a Discalced Carmelite, Father Bruno de Sainte-Marie. From time to time this review publishes special editions like the recent xi ealing with the burning question of the relationship ‘between mysticism and continence! ‘There is no better example of the breadth of outlook, the open-mindedness and the solid jnformativeness typical of the work published by the Carmelites. It is not in any sense a piece of propaganda but a collection of contributions from caperts of every shade of opinion on the occasion of at riremational Congress. Jews, orthodox Catholics and Protestants were invited to put their point of views and in particular a great deal of space was given to religious historians and psycho-analysts who were not particularly conversant with religious practices. ‘Containly the subject matter of the book calls for a range of viewpoints as wide as this. A series of articles all in the same Te Rxclusively Catholic, the work of authors already vowed tegontinence, might have left the reader feeling uneasy. ‘They could have only been. directed at an audience ‘of monks and priests anchored to their own immutable standpoint: wre tork published by the Carmelites, though, is distinguished Congris international & Avon. 1 Mystique et Goninence: Travauer du V Ele raed de la Revue Carmilitaine). ent EE Brouwer, 1952 im 8 410 pages. (3Y¢ a 221