Patrick Graille's 'Le troisième sexe' Reissued with New Research
Patrick Graille's historical study of hermaphroditism and its representations, 'Le troisième sexe', originally published in 2001, was destroyed in a warehouse fire at Belles-Lettres in 2002. The reissued edition includes the author's recent research. The book traces the shift from Ovid's myth of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis to the rationalist medical discourse of the 17th and 18th centuries, where science was called upon to resolve ambiguous sex at birth. Hermaphroditism was pathologized as a dangerous middle state threatening the natalist interests of the monarchy and clergy. Physicians, summoned by courts, conducted public masturbation examinations. The condition was often seen as excessive clitoral development, a female pathology compromising fertility. The Marquis de Sade celebrated this excess in his naturalistic eroticism, portraying characters like d'Esterval, Durand, and Volmar as capable of enjoying both sexes. Michel Vignard reviewed the book for artpress.
Key facts
- Patrick Graille's 'Le troisième sexe' was first published in 2001.
- The original print run was destroyed in a fire at Belles-Lettres warehouse in 2002.
- The reissued edition includes Graille's recent research.
- The book examines hermaphroditism from Ovid's myth to 17th-18th century medical discourse.
- In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the nymph Salmacis fused with Hermaphroditus to create a being of both sexes.
- 17th-18th century science replaced myth with diagnosis of ambiguous sex.
- Hermaphroditism was pathologized as a threat to natalist interests of king and clergy.
- Physicians performed public masturbation examinations on hermaphrodites.
- The condition was often considered a female pathology of excessive clitoral development.
- Marquis de Sade featured hermaphroditic characters in his works.
- Michel Vignard reviewed the book for artpress.
Entities
Artists
- Patrick Graille
- Marquis de Sade
- Michel Vignard
Institutions
- Belles-Lettres
- artpress
Sources
- artpress —