Justine (de Sade novel) Justine (de Sade novel) Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue (French: Justine, ou Les Malheurs de la Vertu) is a 1791 novel by Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, better known as the Marquis de Sade. "Justine" is set just before the French Revolution in France and tells the story of a young woman who goes under the name of Thérèse. Her story is recounted to Madame de Lorsagne while defending herself for her crimes, en route to punishment and death. She explains the series of misfortunes that led her present situation. "Justine" (original French title: Les infortunes de la vertu)
Paris in the 18th century banks and bankers. The "Bourse", or Paris stock market, did not open until 24 September 1724 on "rue Vivienne", in the former "hôtel de Nevers", long after stock markets had existed in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and other cities. The "Banque de France" was not founded until 1800, long after the Bank of Amsterdam (1609), and the Bank of England (1694). Throughout the 18th century, the government was unable to pay its mounting debts. As Saint-Simon wrote, the taxpayers of France were obliged to pay for "a war badly begun and badly supported, the greed of a prime minister, of