Dialogue Between a Priest and a Dying Man
Encyclopedia
Dialogue Between a Priest and a Dying Man (original French: Dialogue entre un prêtre et un moribond) is a dialogue written by the Marquis de Sade
while incarcerated at Château de Vincennes
in 1782, expressing his atheism
by having a dying man (a libertine
) convince a priest of the mistakes of a pious life. It is one of the earliest known written works from de Sade to be dated with certainty, and was first published in 1926 together with an edition of Historiettes, Contes et Fabliaux
(written originally in 1788). It was subsequently published in English in 1927 by Pascal Covici
in a limited, hand-numbered edition of 600 copies.
The dialogue inspired a similar scene in Luis Buñuel
's film Nazarín
(1959), wherein a dying man wards off a priest and debates with him about atheism and religion while on his deathbed. Buñuel has previously adapted The 120 Days of Sodom into a scene in his earlier L'Age d'Or
(1930) and would go on to feature the Marquis himself as a character in La Voie Lactée
(1969).
Marquis de Sade
Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle...
while incarcerated at Château de Vincennes
Château de Vincennes
The Château de Vincennes is a massive 14th and 17th century French royal castle in the town of Vincennes, to the east of Paris, now a suburb of the metropolis.-History:...
in 1782, expressing his atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
by having a dying man (a libertine
Libertine
A libertine is one devoid of most moral restraints, which are seen as unnecessary or undesirable, especially one who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behavior sanctified by the larger society. Libertines, also known as rakes, placed value on physical pleasures, meaning those...
) convince a priest of the mistakes of a pious life. It is one of the earliest known written works from de Sade to be dated with certainty, and was first published in 1926 together with an edition of Historiettes, Contes et Fabliaux
Historiettes, Contes et Fabliaux
Historiettes, Contes et Fabliaux are a set of short tales written by the Marquis de Sade while imprisoned in the Bastille. The dates of the tales range from 1787 to 1788...
(written originally in 1788). It was subsequently published in English in 1927 by Pascal Covici
Pascal Covici
Pascal Avram "Pat" Covici was a Romanian Jewish-American book publisher and editor.- Early life :Pascal Avram Covici, known to his friends as "Pat," was born November 4, 1885 in Botoşani, Romania. He was the son of vintner Wolf Covici and Schfra Barish...
in a limited, hand-numbered edition of 600 copies.
The dialogue inspired a similar scene in Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
's film Nazarín
Nazarín
Nazarín is a 1959 Mexican film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written between Buñuel and Julio Alejandro, adapted from the eponymous novel of Benito Pérez Galdós...
(1959), wherein a dying man wards off a priest and debates with him about atheism and religion while on his deathbed. Buñuel has previously adapted The 120 Days of Sodom into a scene in his earlier L'Age d'Or
L'Âge d'Or
L'Âge d'or is a 1930 surrealist film directed by Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel and written by him and Salvador Dalí.The film began as a second collaboration with Dalí, but, by the time the film went into production, Buñuel and Dalí had had a falling-out, and so Dalí actually had nothing to do with...
(1930) and would go on to feature the Marquis himself as a character in La Voie Lactée
The Milky Way (1969 film)
The Milky Way is a 1969 film directed by Luis Buñuel. It stars Laurent Terzieff, Paul Frankeur, Delphine Seyrig, Georges Marchal and Michel Piccoli...
(1969).
