"Les diaboliques" by J. Barbey d'Aurevilly is a collection of six stories published in November 1874. The tales explore mysterious and enigmatic women confronting love, adultery, murder, vengeance, and resentment. Crimes emerge from passion or boredom in these provocative narratives. The work caused immediate scandal—selling out 2,200 copies in four days before authorities seized remaining copies for allegedly threatening public morality. Today it stands as the author's most acclaimed and famous work.