The Victorian Guide to Sex: Desire & Deviance in the 19th Century
£2.80
An exciting factual romp through sexual desire, practices and deviance in the Victorian era. The Victorian Guide to Sex will reveal advice and ideas on sexuality from the late 19th century. Drawing on both satirical and real-life events from the period, it explores every facet of sexuality that the Victorians encountered.
Reproducing original advertisements and letters, with extracts taken from memoirs, legal cases, newspaper advice columns, and collections held in the Museum of London and the British Museum, this book reveals historical sexual proclivities.
“Riddell’s book lifts the veil on historic sexual attitudes to illuminate the secrets of our ancestors’ lives. Written with wry humour in a pastiche of Victorian style, the book is both entertaining and highly informative.” —Your Family Tree
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Additional information
| Publisher | Illustrated edition (31 May 2014), Pen & Sword Social |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 17061 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 259 pages |
by KATE
Interesting
by Richmonde
Disappointing. She has done her research, but I wish she could have presented it in the usual way, with quotes plus authorial narrative. She has adopted several made-up personae (agony aunt, quack doctor) to present the advice available to Victorians, but this doesn’t really work. The subject matter is fascinating and I look forward to more – better – books and the inevitable TV programmes. Yes, the Victorians were not the prudes we like to think they were. (It makes us look so much more enlightened – but are we?) They knew about the female ****** and the role of the ******** – how did that knowledge get forgotten? Were their books suppressed in the 20th century? Tell us, Fern! It seems that we are still in the process rediscovering what they knew. If you want to know what sexual ignorance is like, look at the 1950s, 60s and 70s. (Agony Aunts used to advise: “Tell your husband that women can enjoy sex without a climax.” They also, in my memory, used to advise women to return to abusive husbands: “You know where your duty lies, dear.”)
Two more criticisms of this book. One, it is appallingly proofread. The “shire” of Hymen? Surely “shrine”! And is it a “baudruche” or a “baundruche”? Two: It is too heavy, and the covers are too slippery. Publishers – you’re always moaning about the price of paper. Why print books on such heavy paper that a book can’t be read by someone with arthritis?
by christopher balnaves
Fairly interesting but not riveting.
by Kryten
Very detailed and interesting.
by niall phillips
Very interesting subject. Not a very interesting read.
by M. M.
This author has the unfortunate habit of rewriting history to suit her own purposes, I would not advise any book by her if you are looking for honest, accurate historical books.
by Raine J.
This book is great if you love history and/or sexology and are interested in seeing a side to Victorian life that isn’t usually shown. This book is a good and engaging read.
by Rob J.
An unusual subject covered very well by social historian Dr Riddell. A delight to read, and recommended to the serious reader.