Who was Leopold von Sacher-Masoch? How does the later idea of him differ from reality? What influence did his time and environment have on him and what is his legacy today? These are some of the questions that this book asks and seeks erudite answers to. The Austrian writer and journalist Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895) was born into a Roman Catholic family of Austrian civil servants in what was then the Halychian town of Lamberg, now Lvov, Ukraine. After studying law, history, and mathematics in Graz, he returned to his hometown, where he became a professor; however, he gradually abandoned the exact sciences and devoted himself to a literary career. He is the author of a number of short stories and novels, the most notable of which is the extensive two-volume collection of short stories Das Vermächtnis Kains I, II (1870, 1877, The Legacy of Cain I, II), including the erotic novella Venus im Pelz (Venus in a Fur Coat), for which he is most famous. In it, he weaves together themes of female domination and sadomasochism with strongly autobiographical elements of sexual fantasies and fetishes. His own contract with the Baroness Fanny von Pistor obliged him to become her slave for six months; she, in turn, was forced to wear a fur coat as often as possible, especially if she was feeling merciless and cruel. Among his other works are Falscher Hermelin (1873, False Hermelin), Die Messalinen Wiens (1873, The Messalines of Vienna), Galizische Geschichten (1875, Halych Tales), Judengeschichten (1878, Jewish Tales) and Die Schlange im Paradies (1890, The Serpent in Paradise). Year of publication 2015 Binding hardback Number of pages 432 Format 135 × 195 mm