Introduction
"Secret Climax" has had a very unusual publishing history. Written by an American "Avant Garde" writer after a long residence in Paris, it grew out of his observation of certain different and fascinating aspects of the French underworld. The French Surete promptly seized copies of the book upon its publication, citing the characters, situations and blunt language, especially sexual references as against the "interest of the public morality." However, due to the genuine literary merit of the book and the valid psychosexual observations of the author, copies survived the seizure and made their literary mark.
Some of the frankest scenes of "Secret Climax" are descriptive of sexual and psychological situations merely glossed over in the average novel of this type. Some interesting questions concerning the dynamic impetus of so-called normal sexual love, as opposed to perverted practices are raised in the course of the narrative. The psychological implications of the perverted attachment a gunman may have for his gun and its sexual symbolism are of great interest to those readers interested in probing beneath the surface of this fast-paced narrative.
Strong similarities in style to Marcus Van Heller, but with greater emphasis on the causes of character perversions will be noted in "Secret Climax." It can be read as a fastpaced modern tale of sexual revenge, but upon consideration it will be seen that much of the author's off-beat eroticism has fruitful Freudian overtones for the psychologically oriented reader.
"Secret Climax" is presented in this country for the first time in its complete and unexpurgated entirety. It is suggested for the mature adult reader only.
ALLAN SAUNDERS
New York City, October, 1967