Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale
£19.30£23.80 (-19%)
Structured thematically in broadly chronological order, the book introduces a lively cast of complex and entertaining characters operating in an array of different periods and settings. The Mesopotamian harlot Shamhat was powerful and respected, able to civilize the wild man Enkidu through her charms. In medieval London Elizabeth Moryng serviced clergy under the guise of an embroidery business, though was eventually jailed for being a prolific procuress and bawd. In Renaissance Venice the courtesan Veronica Franco published her poetry, rubbed shoulders with royalty and founded a charity for other courtesans. In the hedonistic floating world of Edo, Japan, kabuki actresses and then geishas entertained and pleasured their patrons. Three men were hanged in 18th-century London for buggery after being found in the Molly House of Margaret Clap. And at the turn of the century, in New Orleans, Lulu White ran Mahogany Hall, a four-storey building that housed up to forty sex workers.
Lister’s illuminating tales invite readers to look, listen and reconsider everything they thought they knew about the world’s oldest profession.
With 450 illustrations in colour
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Additional information
| Publisher | 1st edition (7 Oct. 2021), Thames and Hudson Ltd |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 256 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0500252440 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0500252444 |
| Dimensions | 17.78 x 3.05 x 24.89 cm |
by Julie
Fantastic idea for a book, and a beautiful tribute to what they call ‘one of the oldest professions ever!’seemingly dating back to as far as Mary Magdalene’s time and before. Very original subject matter for a book. As there’s not that many ‘coffee table‘books about this interesting subject. The only problem is that it could’ve been a lot more interesting.Illustrated with a lot more photographs.Instead there’s to much writing and uninteresting facts and written history, analysis, etc. It’s looks and is advertised as a coffee table book.It could’ve had a lot more interesting photos. As it is I have it on my table and it always grabs people’s attention but they all end up just flipping through it quickly, nothing grabbing their attention, before putting it back down again. Just could’ve been a lot better on a riveting subject.Nice book though and I suppose it’s a good addition to your coffee table or bookshelf. Different to the usual art, nudes etc , people have on their coffee tables. X
by Book-addicted
Such a treat if you feel any kinship with ‘ladies of the night’ from all times and cultures. Enjoy!
by Unidentifiedbones
Interesting enough.
Far too short, far too superficial.
This MIGHT have worked a lot better had the format been coffee- table book sized, but in this format the illustrations are far too small to see, and there are far too few of them.
The text is well written – in the main – but never goes into the kind of depth that I was hoping for, and there really isn’t a lot of it, either.
One of those books that is worth reading, but doesn’t really give the subject the kind of depth it deserves.
by elizabeth greenhalgh
A great read