SEX & SEXUALITY, 1640-1940

Literary, Medical and Sociological Perspectives

Parts 3 and 4: Erotica, 1650-1900, from the Private Case Collection at the British Library, London

Extracts Part 4

The following extracts will give an idea of the material to be found in Part 4.

REEL 22 My Secret Life Vol V

“…. Upstairs I went, and very soon was up her.I saw her several times afterwards, and one evening had a desire to see two women naked together, - it was years since I had done so. Gabrielle got me another woman as tall as herself, and with a cunt of similar hairyness and look. I sent for champagne, we all stripped naked, the two women sat on my knees, then laid on the bed side by side, and then knelt on it with rumps outwards, whilst I investigated their genitals; but my prick would not stand, and though I tried to fuck the stranger who used every blandishment, I could not do it….”

REEL 25 My Secret Life Vol X

“…. In my travels in various parts of the globe, I have never failed to have the women of the various countries passed through, as well as many of the women of the provinces, countries, and nationalities, which in some cases make together what is called an Empire…. I have tasted the sexual treasures of all these fair creatures in their capital cities, and many of their large towns; not only in Europe, but in lands and countries away over many oceans.

I have sought abroad variety in races and breeds at the best lapunars, where they keep women of different nationalities to suit the tastes and languages of travellers…. They may differ in face, form, and color, but all fuck much in the same manner, their endearments, tricks and vices are nearly the same….”

REEL 26 Laura Middleton, Her Brother and Her Lover (1890)

“While Frank and I were thus agreeably occupied in a minute investigation of each others charms, I reverted to what had fallen from him the previous evening, and asked if he really meant to say that his sister was in the habit of visiting him after he had gone to bed. “Not now,” he replied, “I only wish she did, and I would soon repay her the lessons she used to give me. Do you know it was she who first taught me how to do anything in this way”….”

REEL 27 The Seducing Cardinal’s Amours (1830)

“…. Nature as if to aid him in his debaucheries, had formed Carraffa one of the handsomest men of his age: - he had agents all over Italy, searching out for the most lovely objects to gratify their employers lust: to give a history of his numerous amours would fill volumes, to shew the extent of his villainy it will be sufficient to relate his triumph over the virtue of ISABELLA PETO, a most beautiful girl residing at Padua, a short journey from Venice….”

REEL 27 Gynecocracy. A Narrative of the Adventures… of Julian Robinson (1893)

“But though I have been a home-staying youth, I have had experiences; experiences of the world, that is to say, of woman, whom I regard as a complete epitome of the world, - and if anyone , home-stayer or otherwise, has had experience of her in all her moods and whims, and has passed though all the psychological and physical gymnastics by which her varying caprices and lusts can conduct his soul, his passions, and his senses, and still preserves a homely wit, he must be an arrant duffer!

For Woman is a complete education. By my own experience, I have reason to respect the petticoat and chemise, the drawers and long stockings, the high-heeled boots and tight corsets, - and what they contain, - and to believe that good may accrue to a young man by being disciplined by a smart girl….”

REEL 28 Casanova di Seingalt, The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova Vol 1 (1894)

“….I have been throughout my life the victim of my senses; I have found delight in losing the right path, I have constantly lived in the midst of error, with no consolation but the consciousness of my being mistaken. Therefore, dear reader, I trust that, far from attaching to my history the character of impudent boasting, you will find in my Memoirs only the characteristic proper to a general confession, and that my narratory style will be the manner neither of a repenting sinner, nor of a man ashamed to acknowledge his frolics. They are the follies inherent to youth; I make sport of them, and, if you are kind, you will not
yourself refuse them a good-natured smile. You will be amused when you see that I have more than once deceived, without the slightest qualm of conscience, both knaves and fools. As to the deceit
perpetrated upon women, let it pass, for, when love is in the way, men and women as a general rule dupe each other….”

REEL 29 Casanova di Seingalt, The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova Vol 3 (1894)

“Those who do not believe that a woman can make a man happy through the twenty-four hours of the day have never possessed a woman like Henriette. The happiness which filled me, if I can express it in that manner, was much greater when I conversed with her even than when I held her in my arms. She had read much, she had great tact, and her taste was naturally excellent; her judgement was sane, and, without being learned, she could argue like a mathematician, easily and without pretension; and in everything she had that natural grace which is so charming….”

REEL 34 The Chameleon by John Bloxam (1894)

“…. For nearly an hour the boy nestled there in his arms, pressing his soft cheek against his; then the priest told him he must go. For one last long kiss their lips met, and then the small white-clad figure slipped through the window, sped across the little moonlit garden, and vanished through the opposite window…. Ronald Heatherington rose to his feet and laid his hand on the rector’s arm. “You do not
understand me: I have never been attracted by a woman in my life. Can you not see that people are different, totally different, from one another? To think that we are all the same is impossible; our natures, our temperaments, are utterly unlike. But this is what people will never see; they found all their opinions on a wrong basis. How can their deductions be just if their premises are wrong? One law laid down by the majority, who happen to be of one disposition, is only binding on the minority legally, not morally. What right have you, or any one, to tell me that such-and-such a thing is sinful for me?....”

REEL 34 The Loves of a Musical Student being the History of the Adventures and Amorous Intrigues of a Young Rake…. (1897)

“There is no more pleasant relaxation as a relief to care and worry than the perusal of an amusing book; and still more gratifying to our jaded spirit, when the author discourses of love’s power and passion’s sway. But how difficult it is for the amateur of erotic literature to put his hand upon a work that he can really read through from the title-page to the end without feeling tired and disgusted….

What is really required is for the reader to feel that the author has set down nothing but the plain truth, and that we can appreciate the scenes depicted with the greatest enjoyment, as we feel that the
personages whose kisses are described and whose embraces are pictured in glowing terms, are really creatures of human interest….

There are few rich, truthful novels of erotic realism, but “The Loves of a Musical Student” is undoubtedly one of them. Its pages seem to breathe an air of truth, and we must not forget that truth is always
represented naked….”

REEL 35 The Petticoat Dominant or Woman’s Revenge (1898)

“As I lay under this perfumed girl, I really did not know how to contain myself. I experienced such sensations as I had never before had. There I lay on her bed on my back face uppermost, my arms fixed as if in a vice while she sprawled on the top of me her breath occasionally flaming her face harrowing my tenderest feelings and recollections mercilessly.

The idea of my bottom which was not safely hidden being exposed, and exposed to her! To her a girl. Just think of all that she would see. Consider the shame. And consider her whipping it. The most
shameful, most animal part of me flogged by a girl. What degradation….”

REEL 36 The Memoirs of Dolly Morton (1899)

“….Rosa, still wailing, slunk out of the room with her hand pressed to her smarting bottom; the other two women followed, and Randolph and I were left alone.

He put away the switch, then turning to me, said “I don’t think she’ll give you any more trouble, but if she does let me know.” “Oh, George!” I said “How could you bring yourself to whip the girl so severely. She is a pretty creature and I know you have often “had” her.”

He laughed; “Yes. I have often “had” her and will “have” her again if ever I feel inclined to do so, and I will also whip her again whenever she requires punishment….”

REEL 37 Flossie A Venus of Fifteen (1900)

….”The violet eyes laughed up at me, and the red lips parted in a merry smile. A dimple appeared at the corner of the mouth. I was done for! Yes; at thirty-five years of age, with more than my share of
experiences in every phase of love, I went down before this lovely girl with her childish face smiling at me above the budding womanhood of her rounded breasts, and confessed myself defeated!....”

REEL 37 The Little People (1900)

“…. We have said that the sexual impulse was the last of the senses to awaken, but the age at which it manifests itself differs greatly with the individual. It would invariably awaken sooner or later, even if there were no outside influence, no example and no instruction. It is frequently displayed by very small children who, without the slightest knowledge of sexual matters have learned to afford themselves
considerable satisfaction by masturbation. It is sometimes manifested by companies of little tots, boys and girls, who mutually gratify each other by various lewd handlings and toyings without any idea of the distinctions or purpose of sex. They only know that they derive many pleasurable sensations from such toyings, and as unthinkingly as the craving for food or drink….”

REEL 38 Love and Safety (1908)

“….we shall discuss those amusements with men that are absolutely safe and do not lead to pregnancy under circumstances.

This section will be short, as some of these pleasures have already been discussed, under frigging, gamahuching and the dildoe, which can always be, as we have seen, performed with absolute safety, as well by men as by women, for it is equally obvious, ladies, that a man’s hand, or his tongue, or a dildoe, cannot get a woman into the family way….

Why give up your health and time, and become unattractive, by producing brats that are only ties, and in the way and of every one of which your husband curses the advent? They diminish your pleasures, increase your expenses, and ruin your appearance, when your husband speedily goes elsewhere. Listen and have all the pleasure, and none of the pain, all the fucking and none of the family….

Sex and Sexuality Parts 3 and 4 makes available a broad range of historic “pornographic” material to scholars examining the history of sexuality and the relation of “pornography” to literature, medicine, history and art. Much of the material is extremely rare: indeed up until recently the very existence of some titles was denied.

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