The School of Venus

by Unknown

The School of Venus is a major work of late seventeenth-century English libertine erotica. It is a translation of a French work, L’École des Filles, which was first published in 1655. The authorship is uncertain: it has been attributed to Michel Millot and to Jean L’Ange. Like Venus in the Cloister (1683), a translation of Jean Barrin’s Vénus dans le cloître (1683), and Nicolas Chorier’s Satyra Sotadica (1660), which was translated as A Dialogue Between a Married Lady and a Maid (1740) and as The Dialogues of Luisa Sigea (1890), The School of Venus is a whore dialogue – a popular genre in the early modern period representing conversations between a mature, sexually experienced woman and a maiden – and a vehicle for disseminating radical ideas about sex, religion, and the social order. It comprises two dialogues in which Frances instructs her beautiful but inexperienced cousin, Katherine, in the art of sexual pleasure. The text refers to a range of sexual practices but focuses primarily on sexual intercourse between men and women. The language of sex in this book is remarkable for its frankness and obscenity; there are no circumlocutions or euphemisms.

The School of Venus is also known as Lessons in Seduction and as School for Girls.

52 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1655

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Unknown" when the author or editor (as applicable) is not known and cannot be discovered. If at all possible, list at least one actual author or editor for a book instead of using "Unknown".

Books whose authorship is purposefully withheld should be attributed instead to Anonymous.

Reviews

[Niffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly a novel, but I enjoyed reading out some of the more hilarious parts to my boyfriend (observing orders!) and this was generally great if not for any other reason than seeing that the wheelbarrow has been, er, 'in use' since the 17th Century (sorry Cosmo but you really are behind) and for the bit about the rosebuds (I'm never going to see sprinkling rose petals about a room in the same way again).
It does have some rather odd/unsettling notions, however, not only when it comes to various sex acts but especially when it comes to a woman losing her virginity (ouch) and how not to get pregnant... it was however nice to read that even at this time they seemed to expect the woman to, er, 'spend' as frequently as the men, with some effort put in to both party's enjoyment. Something I'm sure a particular sort of 21st century man could do with learning...

One last question - does anyone know if when they say Spanish Olives, they mean actual Olives, or is it a slang term? O-o