Tereza the Philosopher, or Memories of the Story of Father Dirrago and Miss Éradice is the story of an erotic (and philosophical) awakening, as Tereza describes it in manuscript to her lover, the Count. The narrative begins when, as a child, Teresa is confined to a convent whose environment is not facilitative to her because of her heightened temperament. A turning point occurs when the girl subsequently witnesses the games between the lecherous priest, Father Dirrago, and his ward, the naive penitent Éradice, whom the venerable padre initiates with the so-called "sacred rope of St. Francis." It is only after her mother's death that Teresa receives her final lesson, from a hard-working Parisian neighbor, a former courtesan who boasts a certain anomaly - an impenetrable hymen. The many spicy adventures she hears from her help her to understand, mature, and prepare for her own erotic life. The work defies clear genre classification, especially with its philosophical outlines and overlaps. The Marquis de Sade also mentions it in his Juliette or The Splendour of Vice. Year of publication 2009 Binding paperback Number of pages 124 Format 130 × 192 mm