Leopold von Sacher Masoch

by Mistress Michelle Peters

Leopold von Sacher Masoch, an almost forgotten name in the great abyss of time, has left a permanent foot print in the annals of masochistic legend and Western culture in general. For it is from his name, Masoch, that the word masochism is derived. Not only was he the first to describe the masochist's fantasies and urges, but he was also a docile and willing slave to women throughout his life.

Born in Lemberg, Galacia (near the Polish/Russian frontiers) he was the son of a chief of police and a noblewoman of high rank. Leopold's fascination with the suffering, subservient male began early in life. His aunt, the Countess Zenobia, thrashed him terribly as a child. Though he adored her and later recalled the pain as terrible, he was enraptured by it. Later in life he demanded sexual stimulus of an incredible nature: the whips had to have specially sharpened hooks or nails, and were called for several times a day.

Leopold's first real love was the wife of Gustav von Kattowitz, a doctor of medicine who was said to employ his profession chiefly as an avenue to erotic adventure. His wife, Anna, was in her middle thirties when the 25 year old Leopold von Sacher-Masoch was presented to her. Anna, described as "crassly selfish, sporadically prudish and spiteful" had an overwhelming effect on the young Leopold. He saw only her magnificence and sophisticated maturity and they were soon lovers.

When Anna found that Leopold was enraptured with dominant female behavior, she was quite ready to go the extremes, employing whips, birches and erotic clothing such as top-boots and furs. Mock wrestling matches are recorded in Leopold's diary, with Anna always the winner. It was said that Anna was always willing to inflict even crueller forms of punishment upon Leopold, if it would result in more triumphant shopping expeditions for her.

By 1872, as his fame as a poet and prose writer increased, Leopold married Wanda von Dunayev. It is with her, that we believe his true masochistic tendencies came to full bloom. He was flagellated, made to serve his mistress and be present at her seductions of other lovers. The following passage from his personal diary (in which he speaks to Wanda after she has seduced a young college student) is self explanatory.

`It was a martyrdom for me to see you and him together like that. I suffered fearfully. And yet I couldn't turn my eyes away. I was rooted to the spot with horror... I didn't think I could stand it any longer. I wanted to call out and beg you both to put me out of my misery."

Yet of course, it was misery that Sacher-Masoch loved. Not the first masochist and certainly not the last, it is fitting that the word describing the form of erotica which he enjoyed bears his name. Never was a more humble slave to live.