What really interested me in the book was the art style. I was really drawn in by it. The story was also intriguing, but it felt rushed or shallow. I’m not sure which. I would still recommend based on the art and idea alone.

I´m sorry, but I did not like this book, at all. Not the story or the art.
Truly boring.
I was unable to finish it.

2.5 Stars

What a strange book. I didn't really care for the art, and the words were hard to read sometimes, but I did like the historical value of it. Where the term Masochist came from. Especially as someone who has done their studies in psychology.

Copy received from author in exchange for review. All opinions here are expressly my own.

I think that this book shows quite a bit of creativity in both the writing and the art, but I never made an emotional connection with the main character. It could be that that "shame" of having your name associated with a stigmatized concept doesn't have as much meaning anymore.

Graphic novel biographies is such a hit-and-miss genre you'd be forgiven for skipping past this, but it's well worth the look. The beginning, when our hero Leopold tries to recite a lengthy work to a theatre audience, and we see both bits of it and the audience chattering about it in response, is clumsy and quite off-putting. But when we settle down into the unusual lot of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, we get just enough for the layman who had no previous interest in the man's story. Asides to the man who co-opted his name for a scientific term, and his estranged first wife, are interesting – one such section away from the main flow really doesn't work, and I still don't know what that bit was all about – and the story is conveyed quite nicely, in pages that are either black and white or gain merely a red. I liked this for having a clear aesthetic, and for sticking to just the bare bones, and for giving us layman readers all that was necessary to have a grounding in the subject's story. If only the same could be said of countless others in the format.

*I received this book as an eARC from Europe Comics via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This graphic novel describes the origin of the phrase masochism. This is a very interesting historic fiction based on true events and true people. The focus is sexual fantasy and its perception in the 1800s. I found the subject matter very compelling, but the story aspects of it made me bored at times.

There's obviously mature content in this book. It made me want to do more research into the origins of these concepts and the world's perception of sexual interests throughout history. I give this book a 3.5/5. I would definitely be interested in reading more graphic novels like this, but the story definitely could have been tighter.

I loved the artwork in this graphic biography of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, author of Venus in Furs, but found the story a little too slight. The book explores Sacher-Masoch's BDSM relationship with his wife, and how pioneering sexologist Kraft-Ebing used his name to define a fetish for pain, a legacy that eclipsed Sacher-Masoch's prolific literary career. I would have like to see the parts about the emerging fields of sexology and psychoanalysis in Austria expanded as Sacher-Masoch himself wasn't particularly compelling, but overall this was an interesting and eye-catching quick read.

A beautifully illustrated historical piece that covers a unique and entertaining life and period. Sexual liberation in the context of this far away past time period is so interesting and the palette adds to the dreamlike strangeness of the setting.

This was actually very entertaining and informative. I had no idea that the term masochism was derived from a person. Sadism and Masochism are interesting topics to begin with but this adds another layer to the topic.

An interesting look into author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's life and unfortunate connection to the word masochist. I'm a psychology major and one of my most recent classes was the psychology of human sexual behavior. We learned about masochism and I now, having read this, have a little more background on where the word came from instead of just what it means. (A person who derives sexual gratification from their own pain or humiliation.) It was a quick, engaging read with beautiful illustrations.

A disappointing memoir that somewhat glorifies Sacher-Masoch while denigrates his former wife Aurora. Sacher-Masoch had many misogynistic qualities in his writings and this author carries those in their condemnation of Aurora as a spiteful, cheating woman.

Although I was aware of the book Venus In Furs I didn't know much about the author so this was an interesting read. I really loved the art style and limited colour palette used through out, it really brought the story to life.

And this is how the word, Masochism came to be. I really enjoyed the graphic novel, Man in Furs. Having read several stories in the graphic novel form, I've found them to be much more engaging than if they had been a standard biography. Man in Furs is a fascinating story. I knew of Venus in Furs but had not made all the connections until now. I really enjoyed the illustrations and found the simple black and white drawings perfect with the well done text. Catherine Sauvat along with artist Anne Simon have created a work that is easy to follow and thoroughly entertaining.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A rather odd graphic novel which tells the story of Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch who according to Wiki 'was an Austrian nobleman, writer and journalist, who gained renown for his romantic stories of Galician life'. His best known story, 'Venus in Furs,' was all about being dominated by a woman wearing fur. He actually managed to live out his fantasies with his first wife.

The term 'masochism' is actually derived from his name. This term was invented by his contemporary, the Austrian psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing but Masoch did not approve of this use of his name, which is most unfortunate given the popularity of the term and how we use it today.

The graphic novel is really well drawn using black and white to depict Masoch's real life, and red and white when he is narrating one of his stories. The graphic novel also tells the story of his marriage and divorce, children and his subsequent marriage to his assistant.

It is a rather peculiar story but well illustrated.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I'm quite confused... I did not like the art nor the story.
It definitely was not the book for me it felt weird and I could not relate to anything given it is about masochism and submission. I did not get it...

I think the subject at hand is quite is fascinating (when done right of course), wich I don't think was done here, It wasn't exactly bad just really peculiar... definitely not what I expected...

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose life's work is forever eclipsed by the taboo desires named after him, has his story told in this black, white and red graphic novel. 
I have never given any thought as to where the word masochism came from, and I never thought it came from one man.
This was a fast and interesting read with a brief nod to the Marquis de Sade the man behind masochism cousin sadism.

Thank you, NetGalley and the author for the preview of this Graphic Novel.

Man in Furs by Catherine Sauvat and Anne Simon is based on the life of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. While the art was fresh and easy to follow, the graphic novel had something missing. It didn't grip me enough. It felt as if this book has a lot of missed potential.

The book has great graphics, the story is something to look after. Not many a times a book comes up front with such subject matter. And what better way to say things through pictures. The art work was great and clean, it seemed on point. The book could have used more situations to display more of what was going on.

Also it was a very quick read which made it even more edgy. I can highly recommend the book to anyone who has slight interest in this perspective.