‘Justine (or The Misfortunes of Virtue)’ was written by the French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher and writer, the Marquis de Sade (2 June 1740 – 2 December 1814). De Sade wrote the story in two weeks during 1787 while imprisoned in the Bastille, the Parisian prison that two years later on 14 July 1789 would be stormed by a crowd beginning the French Revolution. Published in 1791, and set just before the French Revolution, the story tells of the character of Therese who recounts her story of suffering and abuse at the hands of various figures of authority. Sade’s writings combine philosophical discourse with violent pornography, criminality and blasphemy. The words sadism and sadist are derived from his name.