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A Lover's Pinch: A Cultural History of Sadomasochism
A worldwide subculture that influences everything from fashion to advertising, sadomasochism has a long and lively history. A Lover’s Pinch tells the story of consensual sadomasochism, from a controversial religious practice to a secretive sexuality branded a perversion. The origins of kink and fetish culture have been shrouded in secrecy and myths, until now. Here, Peter Tupper reveals the true story of sadism and masochism, dominance and submission.
From the ancient Christian flagellants to the Fifty Shades trilogy, the history of consensual sadomasochism is a story of fascinating individuals, unlikely connections and strange twists and turns. Meet Arthur Munby, the Victorian gentleman who secretly married Hannah Cullwick, his maid of all work, and called her his slave; and Jack McGeorge, the UN weapons inspector who was outed as a BDSM club leader just before the Iraq war. Explore the links between Robinson Crusoe,Uncle Tom's Cabin and modern BDSM pornography, and between fetish fashion and anti-Catholic propaganda. Learn how the 19th century middle-class household nurtured dominant-submissive sexuality. Discover the secret history of a hidden world.
Winner, 2019 Geoff Mains Non-Fiction Book Award, NLA-International
From the ancient Christian flagellants to the Fifty Shades trilogy, the history of consensual sadomasochism is a story of fascinating individuals, unlikely connections and strange twists and turns. Meet Arthur Munby, the Victorian gentleman who secretly married Hannah Cullwick, his maid of all work, and called her his slave; and Jack McGeorge, the UN weapons inspector who was outed as a BDSM club leader just before the Iraq war. Explore the links between Robinson Crusoe,Uncle Tom's Cabin and modern BDSM pornography, and between fetish fashion and anti-Catholic propaganda. Learn how the 19th century middle-class household nurtured dominant-submissive sexuality. Discover the secret history of a hidden world.
Winner, 2019 Geoff Mains Non-Fiction Book Award, NLA-International
344 pages, Hardcover
Published August 10, 2018
27 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
Peter Tupper
18 books23 followersPeter Tupper is a journalist and writer in Vancouver, BC. His erotica publications include stories in ‘Elementary Erotica’ and “Like an Iron Fist’ and the single-author collection ‘The Innocent’s Progress & Other Stories’, all by Circlet Press. He’s also working on a history book on consensual sadomasochism.
He studied history at UBC and journalism at Langara College.
He studied history at UBC and journalism at Langara College.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 14, 2019
A really interesting history of BDSM. I'm torn on whether to wholeheartedly recommend it, because I think in some ways it's both too scholarly and not scholarly enough, but if you're looking for a book that traces the history of modern BDSM all the way back to things like early Christian flagellants, this is the book for you and I don't think there's another book quite like it.
It's got the price point of an academic book -- the ebook alone was $25 -- but when I opened it I was disappointed to find that none of the footnotes were hyperlinked. I realize that this is not the author's fault, but still. The introduction also had the requisite number of Foucault quotes (honestly, that number is one) to convince you that you're going to be reading an academic text, but what surprised me was that the introduction explained what BDSM was, which I thought was weird because (a) surely if you're reading this, you already know, and (b) I was expecting this to be the kind of academic book where the introduction included a summary of every chapter and how that was going to support the author's thesis. It wasn't. Every chapter was a mystery. Which, I mean, okay, fine, I still read the book, but I would have liked an outline.
The chapters are wide-ranging and cover a lot of history: Christian flagellants, Orientalism and the rise of harem fantasies, the Gothic novel, American slavery, Victorians and all their caning porn, the actual Marquis de Sade, fascism... as well as getting into the rise of modern BDSM, which of course happened in pretty much three completely different subcultures near-independently (gay leathermen, straight pin-ups, and -- much later -- lesbians because apparently lesbians only discovered BDSM in 1974, ha). The more you know about modern BDSM, the less will be new to you, of course, but I appreciated all the thematic analysis of what are apparently very kinky novels that I have never read. There are so many fun history facts! (I also liked the story of the London couple in the 1850s who apparently invented master/slave play for themselves. It was sweet.)
If there's a downside, I think that as an academic book it could have been a little... sharper. There were a few sections where quotations were repeated later on in the same chapter to mean the exact same thing. There were multiple quotations about the same topic where really one would have done -- and I don't mean, like, "I would have preferred more from the pro-SM lesbians than the pages and pages from the anti-SM lesbians," although that's true too, I mean that I really only needed one quotation about fondling the probably-fictional poor enslaved white Christian harem girls of Istanbul. Also a lot of the chapter conclusions just kind of... drifted off. The fascism chapter, after discussing for the whole chapter how Nazis were a convenient fake S&M villain because uniforms are sexy and they didn't really exist anymore, then ended with three paragraphs of, basically, "Never mind, whoops, neo-Nazis exist and are really scary." I get the feeling the author didn't want to rewrite a lot of that chapter. Similarly, the actual book ends with a conclusion discussing how Fifty Shades of Gray is bad and then a couple paragraphs about how kink is great and... that's it.
So I think on the whole that it could have been slightly better-written than it is, but if you're interested in the history of modern kink and, essentially, all the cultural antecedents that prefigured it, you're going to want to read this. I enjoyed it a lot!
It's got the price point of an academic book -- the ebook alone was $25 -- but when I opened it I was disappointed to find that none of the footnotes were hyperlinked. I realize that this is not the author's fault, but still. The introduction also had the requisite number of Foucault quotes (honestly, that number is one) to convince you that you're going to be reading an academic text, but what surprised me was that the introduction explained what BDSM was, which I thought was weird because (a) surely if you're reading this, you already know, and (b) I was expecting this to be the kind of academic book where the introduction included a summary of every chapter and how that was going to support the author's thesis. It wasn't. Every chapter was a mystery. Which, I mean, okay, fine, I still read the book, but I would have liked an outline.
The chapters are wide-ranging and cover a lot of history: Christian flagellants, Orientalism and the rise of harem fantasies, the Gothic novel, American slavery, Victorians and all their caning porn, the actual Marquis de Sade, fascism... as well as getting into the rise of modern BDSM, which of course happened in pretty much three completely different subcultures near-independently (gay leathermen, straight pin-ups, and -- much later -- lesbians because apparently lesbians only discovered BDSM in 1974, ha). The more you know about modern BDSM, the less will be new to you, of course, but I appreciated all the thematic analysis of what are apparently very kinky novels that I have never read. There are so many fun history facts! (I also liked the story of the London couple in the 1850s who apparently invented master/slave play for themselves. It was sweet.)
If there's a downside, I think that as an academic book it could have been a little... sharper. There were a few sections where quotations were repeated later on in the same chapter to mean the exact same thing. There were multiple quotations about the same topic where really one would have done -- and I don't mean, like, "I would have preferred more from the pro-SM lesbians than the pages and pages from the anti-SM lesbians," although that's true too, I mean that I really only needed one quotation about fondling the probably-fictional poor enslaved white Christian harem girls of Istanbul. Also a lot of the chapter conclusions just kind of... drifted off. The fascism chapter, after discussing for the whole chapter how Nazis were a convenient fake S&M villain because uniforms are sexy and they didn't really exist anymore, then ended with three paragraphs of, basically, "Never mind, whoops, neo-Nazis exist and are really scary." I get the feeling the author didn't want to rewrite a lot of that chapter. Similarly, the actual book ends with a conclusion discussing how Fifty Shades of Gray is bad and then a couple paragraphs about how kink is great and... that's it.
So I think on the whole that it could have been slightly better-written than it is, but if you're interested in the history of modern kink and, essentially, all the cultural antecedents that prefigured it, you're going to want to read this. I enjoyed it a lot!
September 12, 2018
A fascinating history of sexuality, specifically that of the oft misunderstood subset of sadomasochism. For many, when they think of sadomasochism (s/m), they think of leather clad bikers, whips and chains, Bettie Page, and 50 Shades of Grey. While all of those things certainly have their place within s/m there is so much more to the history and it's fascinating to read about how it has evolved over the centuries. Broken into easily readable sections, Peter Tupper, does a remarkable job of piecing together the fragmented history of s/m all the way back to the Catholic Church, the ecstasy of the saints, the schoolboy whippings, the Marquis de Sade, all the way up to modern times and the advent of the internet. Although it is very scholarly, it is still a titillating read; and how could it not be? It's an eye opening book that not just s/m fans will enjoy. Newbies, scholars, and those well versed in BDSM will still find something new and exciting between the covers of this book ;)
December 1, 2018
A thought-provoking, intelligent and diligent review of how sadomasochism has influenced, and been influenced by culture and historical events over hundreds of years. Something here for everyone interested in such research. My particular favorites were the parts which gave insight into how our minds work, such as the section on 'ritual'. Well done.
July 20, 2024
I think for it being a non-academic text, it does a pretty decent job of exploring the history of choosing pain rather than running from it. I think the framing of the book was very Eurocentric in its explorations of kink, and would have been interesting to see more exploration of kink outside of the norms of white sexuality. The chapter on fascist imagery in kink was unsettling, not because of the subject matter but because it felt like the author couldn't make up his mind about whether he was in favor of people wearing fascist uniforms or not.
All in all, it's a great primer on some of the history of S/M, which is a subject matter not a lot of folks are willing to dedicate their time writing about, but more care about the impacts of the fetishization of acts and behaviors enacted nonconsensually on entire groups of people has on the contemporary kink scene would have made this book better and feel less Eurocentric.
All in all, it's a great primer on some of the history of S/M, which is a subject matter not a lot of folks are willing to dedicate their time writing about, but more care about the impacts of the fetishization of acts and behaviors enacted nonconsensually on entire groups of people has on the contemporary kink scene would have made this book better and feel less Eurocentric.
June 3, 2025
I can't recommend this book highly enough to anyone who wants to learn more about the long and rich history of the kink community--whether you're a part of it or not, although it feels especially valuable for kinky people in that "we've always been here" sense. I'll admit I was embarrassed not to have known about a lot of the figures and events that were talked about in here before reading this book, but I suppose it just goes to show how suppressed certain politicized identities and histories can be, even from people who hold those identities.
August 12, 2023
I enjoyed it although, I agree with another reader on how it felt like it trailed off. Some of the material of completely engaging and then in parts it felt like it just kept going. There was quite an amount of information in the book. Definitely a historical account. I love the "Jesus and Soul" part which I thought was hilarious.
August 5, 2025
I honestly went into this book mostly interested in the subject of BDSM from a sexual standpoint and the psychology behind it, but Peter Tupper presents it from historical, religious, philosophical, etc. facts, so it was a lot more erudite and cerebral than I'd expected, which I appreciated.
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June 7, 2019306.77509 T928 2018
September 21, 2019
Fascinating, detailed history of sadomasochism. I enjoyed this book so much, I read it very slowly to savor it.
November 4, 2021
Fascinating, illuminating. I could have used a heavier application of critical theory and greater clarity of the author’s intent and audience.
August 7, 2022
Peter does an extraordinary job of capturing as close to a complete history of BDSM as possible.
The history in these pages cannot be denied.
The history in these pages cannot be denied.
September 3, 2021
My knowledge and understanding of what constitutes the cultural history of 'S&M' is almost entirely limited to the two major authors who gave their names to the paraphilias of sadism and masochism, the Marquis de Sade and Baron Sacher Von Masoch. Aside from some awareness of how the former was a key contributor to Libertine and erotic literaturr and philosophy, and the wrote 'Venus in Furs', that was it. So, as someone who has previously studied the history sexuality and with an ongoing interest in literary culture I thought Tupper's book was worthy of a read.
'A Lover's Pinch' is a worthy attempt at producing a history of sadomasochism and for the most part it is relatively engaging and full of insights. It was reassuring to see the most important modern philosopher on matter sexual, Michael Foucault cited on a regular basis; his constructs and principles were part of my study's academic rationale during my first postgraduate degree. Thankfully Tupper distilled and cited only what was needed to support his arguments; Foucault is a very dense and complex writer and whilst perhaps this is a surface reading of his work it is still useful.
The best parts of this book were those that focused on the emergence of sadomasochism from roughly the advent of Christian Europe through to the 19th Century. Tupper speaks to sadomasochism's cultural history in the relevant chapters, looking at pertainent aspects such as religion and ritual, slavery, orientalism, 18th Century anti-clericalism, fascism, colonialism and class. Within each discussion he provides clear and intelligent obeservations on how sadomasochism developed through or was influenced by these factors. It is exceedingly clear that Tupper has done his research and used the source materials to the benefit of his arguments.
Where I think the book falls down somewhat is the latter chapters, specifically with reference to the psot-WW2 era. One cannot accuse Tupper of being less dedicated in his research or less insightful in his discussion of the subject. The problem is that the text becomes more of analysis of recent American political dialogues about sexuality, BDSM and the 'Kink' lifestyle. This has some value I am sure, however to be honest it wasn't really that interesting for a reader who is utterly divorced from the contemporary issues discusssed.
Tupper's conclusion makes some good points about the recent commercial success of 'housewife BDSM' through books and films such as 'Secretary' and '50 Shades of Grey', and it is obvious that as a member of the S/M community he brings a positive and educational approach to his subject. Yet there is still going to be an underlining problem with this book for those who might consider sadomasochism as verboten. The argument for acceptance in the book is possibly valid, yet that is possibly out of place in what is from its title a cultural history.
Regarding Tupper's prose, it is at times complex and challenging, however for the most part it reads well enough. His chapters are organised and written with an inner cohesion that ensures his discussion can be understood. Where he does stray into technicalities he does his best to explain them. Tupper also does well to incorporate quotations and illustrations to support his work.
In conclusion, 'A Lover's Pinch' is a useful and relatively engaging text on a subject that might be considered beyond the pale for many readers. For those of us interested in cultural and sexual histories it is a rather rewarding read.
'A Lover's Pinch' is a worthy attempt at producing a history of sadomasochism and for the most part it is relatively engaging and full of insights. It was reassuring to see the most important modern philosopher on matter sexual, Michael Foucault cited on a regular basis; his constructs and principles were part of my study's academic rationale during my first postgraduate degree. Thankfully Tupper distilled and cited only what was needed to support his arguments; Foucault is a very dense and complex writer and whilst perhaps this is a surface reading of his work it is still useful.
The best parts of this book were those that focused on the emergence of sadomasochism from roughly the advent of Christian Europe through to the 19th Century. Tupper speaks to sadomasochism's cultural history in the relevant chapters, looking at pertainent aspects such as religion and ritual, slavery, orientalism, 18th Century anti-clericalism, fascism, colonialism and class. Within each discussion he provides clear and intelligent obeservations on how sadomasochism developed through or was influenced by these factors. It is exceedingly clear that Tupper has done his research and used the source materials to the benefit of his arguments.
Where I think the book falls down somewhat is the latter chapters, specifically with reference to the psot-WW2 era. One cannot accuse Tupper of being less dedicated in his research or less insightful in his discussion of the subject. The problem is that the text becomes more of analysis of recent American political dialogues about sexuality, BDSM and the 'Kink' lifestyle. This has some value I am sure, however to be honest it wasn't really that interesting for a reader who is utterly divorced from the contemporary issues discusssed.
Tupper's conclusion makes some good points about the recent commercial success of 'housewife BDSM' through books and films such as 'Secretary' and '50 Shades of Grey', and it is obvious that as a member of the S/M community he brings a positive and educational approach to his subject. Yet there is still going to be an underlining problem with this book for those who might consider sadomasochism as verboten. The argument for acceptance in the book is possibly valid, yet that is possibly out of place in what is from its title a cultural history.
Regarding Tupper's prose, it is at times complex and challenging, however for the most part it reads well enough. His chapters are organised and written with an inner cohesion that ensures his discussion can be understood. Where he does stray into technicalities he does his best to explain them. Tupper also does well to incorporate quotations and illustrations to support his work.
In conclusion, 'A Lover's Pinch' is a useful and relatively engaging text on a subject that might be considered beyond the pale for many readers. For those of us interested in cultural and sexual histories it is a rather rewarding read.
December 13, 2022
Human beings have always been "kinky" if you consider kink to be any type of sex that might not create a baby. Tupper does an excellent job of citing and contextualizing some of the commonly used "kinky tidbits" from history until he gets to the Victorian era where he spend the bulk of this book. Rightly so, since before that time, Western culture wasn't set up for a consensual kinky relationship. My only disappointment in the book is the rushed post-Victorian period; I would have preferred that Tupper dig in even further to that time period in Europe and possibly America to really question if consent was truly possible.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews