An original manuscript for the Marquis de Sade's "The 120 Days of Sodom" has been withdrawn from a Paris auction after the French government declared it a "national treasure" and banned its export.
FILE - This Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 file photo shows the original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," a scandalous and pornographic novel written by French writer Marquis de Sade while jailed in the Bastille prison. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
Auction house Aguttes said Tuesday the French culture ministry has granted the most valuable lots in the auction the rare treasure classification and proposed buying them.
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FILE - This Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 file photo shows the original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," a scandalous and pornographic novel written by French writer Marquis de Sade while jailed in the Bastille prison. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - This Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 file photo shows the original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," a scandalous and pornographic novel written by French writer Marquis de Sade while jailed in the Bastille prison.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017.(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of "Manifeste du Surrealisme," by French writer Andre Breton is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Original manuscripts by French writer Andre Breton are on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
FILE - This Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 file photo shows the original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," a scandalous and pornographic novel written by French writer Marquis de Sade while jailed in the Bastille prison.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Following the ministry's decision, a court receiver allowed Aguttes to withdraw the top lots from Wednesday's auction and to negotiate their eventual sales directly with the government.
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017.(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
In addition to the Sade's 1785 explicit text, the withdrawn lots include the 1924 manuscript for the first "Surrealist Manifesto" by French writer Andre Breton. The lots had a combined value estimated in the multimillion-dollar range.
The original manuscript of "The 120 Days of Sodom or the School of Libertinage," by French writer Marquis de Sade is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The original manuscript of "Manifeste du Surrealisme," by French writer Andre Breton is on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
De Sade is known for his libertine writings on sex.
Original manuscripts by French writer Andre Breton are on display prior to the auction of the Aristophil Collections, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
SYDNEY (AP) — Joe Root posted his second hundred of the series for England and Travis Head closed in on his third for Australia as Day 2 of the final Ashes test closed evenly poised on Monday.
England was bowled out just before tea for 364 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Root leading with a masterful 160 for his best test score in Australia from his four Ashes tours.
At stumps, Australia was 166-2 in reply with Head again in imperious form as he slashed his way to 91 not out from 87 balls.
Ben Stokes took both wickets for England, which struggled to stem the flow of runs in the evening session before the wicket of the well-set Marnus Labuschagne late in the day.
Root showed all the composure of a 163-test veteran as he notched his 41st century off 146 balls, with 11 boundaries and celebrated with the same shrug gesture as when he broke through for his first hundred in four Ashes tours at Brisbane last month.
Australia retained the Ashes with wins in the first three tests, but England is coming off a drought-breaking win in the fourth test at Melbourne last week.
“I just felt like we’ve had some amazing support throughout this series and we’ve not been able to achieve what we set out to as a group, but at no point has that (support) ever wavered,” Root said. The celebration "is a way of saying thankyou.”
Root’s innings finally ended when he popped a return catch to Michael Neser, who dived across the pitch to grasp the ball just inches above the ground.
While his disappointment was evident as he walked from the field, he received a standing ovation from the near-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground in what may be his last tour of a country that had provided his greatest batting challenge.
Root is now level with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the all-time list of test centurymakers. Only Sachin Tendulker (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) have more.
Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc made early breakthroughs Monday after Root and Harry Brook’s partnership had moved to 169 runs and was threatening to take the test away from the hosts.
Boland (2-85) ended Brook’s equal parts streaky and sublime innings at 84, with Steve Smith taking a sharp catch to bring to a close the best partnership of the series across both teams.
Starc (2-93) removed England skipper Stokes (0) for the fifth time this series with a near unplayable delivery that shaped away from the left-hander which took a thin edge on its way through to Alex Carey.
Jamie Smith made an enterprising, and at times fortunate, 46 before he holed-out to the part-time medium pace of Labuschagne.
Root and Jacks then combined for 54-run partnership before Neser's (4-60) three quick strikes wrapped up the innings.
Australia's innings got off to a fast start with Head and Jake Weatherald raising 50 in just the 10th over.
Stokes (2-30) entered the attack to stem the runs and soon had Weatherald (21) trapped lbw to have Australia at 57-1.
Head continued the attack and raised his 50 from 55 balls and soon after passed 500 runs for the series, at a strike rate above 87.
“Every ball he (Head) is looking to score,” Neser said. “He is not trying to work it around or grind it out. And most times he creates more opportunities than normal batters, because he is so talented.”
Labuschagne also found form and with Head plundered a 105-run partnership in quick time.
In the fading light, Labuschagne and Stokes had a verbal exchange across several overs with the England captain showing and voicing his displeasure at the Australian's delaying tactics.
Stokes eventually had Labuschagne (48) caught at gully and Australia was 162-2.
Neser went in as nightwatchman for 15 minutes and took a painful blow on the elbow in the final over.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Australia's Marnus Labuschagne reacts after he was dismissed during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Marnus Labuschagne reacts after he was dismissed during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Travis Head bats during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's captain Steve Smith, left, talks to teammate Mitchell Starc during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
England's Josh Tongue is out bowled during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
England's Joe Root celebrates after scoring a century during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Michael Neser celebrates after dismissing England's Joe Root during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
England's Joe Root reacts after scoring 150 runs during play on day two of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
