The word "masochism" was taken from the name of this author and this is the book which first described this aspect of human nature. In the 19th century tradition, this novella is a frame story containing a first person account. It's a novella and so it's a quick read. Severin, the protagonist falls in love with a woman and convinces her to treat him as her love slave. Much of the interest is in the dialogue between Severin and the object of his desire, Wanda. The story remains quite insightful and honest about human attraction to bondage and submission.