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The Sexual History Of London: From Roman Londinium To The Swinging City---Lust, Vice, And Desire Across The Ages (2010)

by Catharine Arnold(Favorite Author)

3.62 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0312600348 (ISBN13: 9780312600341)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

St. Martin's Press

review 1: Another of Catharine Arnold's irreverent, informative tours through the history of London, this time taking in the gays, the lezzas, the bis, the transvestites and the sex workers. Arnold's breezy style means the leaps from tragedy to hilarity via politics, science and social change are fascinating and always readable. Even more than her other books, Arnold's writing is filled with glee and empathy. Some of her sardonic asides are also pleasingly upfront about historical facts which other, more conservative writers try to dodge around (why are so many historians so reluctant to just admit Queen Anne was at the very least a bisexual who preferred women?).A great bawdy read which can be blasted through in no time at all, but which you'll wish was longer.
review 2:... more> With such a titillating title, the reader might want to use a book cover when reading it in public! However, this is a serious look at the sex trade in London from the time that it was called Londinium and the Romans brought their camp followers to Britain until modern times and the use of the internet for advertising.London had more prostitutes than any city in the 17th-19th centuries. Poverty was rampant and girls had to "go on the game" to survive. Of course, there were the high class ladies who had a wealthy protector who supported them and who retired with property and riches. But the majority of the working girls were pathetic, dirty and disease ridden and seldom lived past age 35. There were periods when the authorities cracked down on the profession and there were times when it was basically ignored as the government had economic issues which took precedence. At one time the penalty for homosexuality was death but usually a blind eye was turned to that particular form of "vice". The hypocrisy of the Victorians, fueled by the myth of "white slavery", was spectacular; those who availed themselves of the services of the prostitutes were also the ones who were heading up committees to stamp it out.This is an interesting social study of the "victimless" crime where the only victims were the girls who were forced into the street to avoid dying of starvation. less

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Reviews (see all)

cheecheexiong95

Interesting enough, I suppose, but very repetitive. It could have been done in half the pages.

taylorliz

An interesting read, very factual and not atall titillating.

ina

OK - got a little long - skimmed the middle

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