The Story of O or Histoire d'O, was an erotic tale of female submission, written by Ann Desclos under the Pen name of Pauline Réage.  The book was written as a series of letters by Deslos to her real life lover, Jean Paulhan who was as great admirer of the writings of the Marquis de Sade.  Desclos wrote Story of O over a period of time and the letters were published as a book in 1954 with a forward by Paulhan.

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The book tells of a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer who is taken by her lover, Rene, to the chateau of Roissy in Paris, France where she is subjected to various forms of discipline and sexual use by a variety of male masters. The purpose of this treatment was to teach her total obedience to people she did not love and who did not love her.

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After this period of her training, Rene hands O over to an older English gentleman, Sir Stephen, as a demonstration of his generosity and his bond to Sir Stephen.  During her time with Sir Stephen, O falls in love with him and believes he also loves her.  As the culmination to her training, Sir Stephen decides to send O to Samois, a mansion solely inhabited by women and run by Anne-Marie, for advanced training and body modifications to mark her submission. At Samois, O agrees to receive a brand and labia piercing with rings marked with Sir Stephen's initials and insignia.

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At the climax of the book, O is taken to a ball and presented as a slave, nude but for an owl-like mask, before a large party of guests where she is treat puely as an object.

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The book had two endings.  In one, O returns to Roissy and is abandoned by Sir Stephen.  In the second, which is probably the ending that Deslos favoured, O asks permission to end her own life to which Sir Stephen agrees.

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The book caused a storm of protest when it was published and was accused of being obscene despite receiving a French literary prize.