Story of O Series by Pauline Réage

The Story of O relates the progressive willful debasement of a young and beautiful Parisian fashion photographer, O, who wants nothing more than to be a slave to her lover, René. The test is severe—sexual in method, psychological in substance… The artistic interest here has precisely to do with the use not only of erotic materials but also erotic methods, the deliberate stimulation of the reader as a part of and means to a total, authentic literary experience... moreThe Story of O relates the progressive willful debasement of a young and beautiful Parisian fashion photographer, O, who wants nothing more than to be a slave to her lover, René. The test is severe—sexual in method, psychological in substance… The artistic interest here has precisely to do with the use not only of erotic materials but also erotic methods, the deliberate stimulation of the reader as a part of and means to a total, authentic literary experience.—Eliot Fremont-Smith, The New York Times less

The precursor to Fifty Shades of Grey, Pauline Réage’s Story of O continues, as a woman returns to the place of her deepest, most intimate erotic initiation.She gave up everything to surrender to the forces of sensual love. Beautiful “O” is a Parisian photographer who makes a bold choice to follow her most forbidden desires. Her story takes her to the deepest, most dangerous places of domination, where the pleasures of the flesh meet the needs of the heart... moreThe precursor to Fifty Shades of Grey, Pauline Réage’s Story of O continues, as a woman returns to the place of her deepest, most intimate erotic initiation.She gave up everything to surrender to the forces of sensual love. Beautiful “O” is a Parisian photographer who makes a bold choice to follow her most forbidden desires. Her story takes her to the deepest, most dangerous places of domination, where the pleasures of the flesh meet the needs of the heart.O’s journey sweeps her from the compelling embrace of René, where she gained understanding of true physical surrender, to the mysterious Sir Stephen and his chateau, where women learn to master the sensual arts. In this private club, O is challenged to release everything but her desire to be a willing vessel of pleasure—and forced to confront who she is and what she truly wants. As jealousy, sadistic games, and uncertainty make her question the lines she has crossed for love, she can only wonder: How far and how deep will she go? And where will it stop? less

An erotic novel of the 1970s. The "50 Shades of Grey" of its day, perhaps. BDSM, willing submission to slavery, and so on.