Christopher Hampton (1) (1946–)

(Wikipedia) Les Liaisons dangereuses (French: [le ljɛzɔ̃ dɑ̃ʒ(ə)ʁøz]; English: Dangerous Liaisons) is a French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782.

It is the story of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two narcissistic rivals (and ex-lovers) who use seduction as a weapon to socially control and exploit others, all the while enjoying their cruel games and boasting about their talent for manipulation. It has been seen as depicting the corruption and depravity of the French nobility shortly before the French Revolution, and thereby attacking the Ancien Régime. However, it has also been described as merely a story about two completely amoral people.… (more)

In 1985, Christopher Hampton published a play based on de Laclos' famous 1782 novel. That play was staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, was exported to Broadway, and was adapted to a film in 1988, also by Hampton. This audio book is a BBC dramatization of Hampton's play. While I have not read Laclos' epistolary novel, descriptions suggest that the play sticks fairly close to the book.

I greatly enjoyed the audio version of the play -- it is excellent in nature and quality. It is beautifully acted, and the various characters come through distinct by their voices and dialogue. As for the story line itself, I found it enthralling. I also found it astonishing that a story depicting such decadence and degeneracy could date to the late 1700s -- even granting that the French have long been more explicit about sexual matters than the stuffy English. This work is so well acted that the ending (which is not a happy one) was hard to listen to. Having been released on audio cassette tapes (totaling 135 minutes), this audio version is difficult to find (I secured it 2nd hand via Amazon). However, for those so inclined to try it, I highly recommend it. And I am now motivated to seek out both the film and LeClos' actual book.… (more)