[13] The script is prefaced by Pierre Bourgeade, who considered the literary quintessentiality of this essay as part of the expression of an "unconscious freedom of its own",[14] while Jean-Jacques Pauvert displayed it as a "major work of erotic literature over the past ten years".
The book introduced sadomasochism into mainstream literature, "without censorship, but also without complacency towards the reader",[11] by focusing on the "breaks" that lead to it,[17] from an angle that, according to Annick Foucault, gains the consent from partners.
[24] According to Céline du Chéné, Mistress Françoise turns out to be "probably the most intellectual of the dominatrixes of the Parisian scene", owning "all the editions" of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch and "having maintained a correspondence" with Gilles Deleuze,[13] who, as per Jean Pache, would have sealed "this unexpected disciple friendship and consideration".
[27][28] On the occasion of the release of a translation of her book in Italy,[29] Giovanni Firmian described her author as "the queen of dominatrixes and sadomasochistic practices, the most famous one in France, but also known throughout the rest of Europe and United States".
[25][11] However, the Italian periodical La Stampa reveals significantly more critical comments recorded by the journalist Mirella Serri, who believes that the author of Maîtresse Françoise considers herself to be the embodiment of "an outstanding artist belonging to a scarce and special breed: i.e. the "mystics" of sex".