From Sappho to De Sade

by Jan N. Bremmer (Editor)

The history of sexuality has been the subject of increased interest in recent years and more widely acknowledged importance in the interpretation of past mentalit�s. Yet historians have only recently begun to study sexual practices in any depth, establishing that sexuality is not a biological constant but an ever-changing phenomenon, continuously shaped by people themselves.

The contributors to this inter-disciplinary collection bring their expertise in ancient as well as medieval history, anthropology, modern history, and psychology to bear upon the history of sexuality. They explore various aspects of sexuality in successive periods: pederasty and lesbian love in antiquity, incest in the Middle Ages, sexual education during the Dutch Republic, voyeurism in the rococo, prostitution in Vienna around 1900, and the invention of sexology.

From Sappho to De Sade, first published in 1989, offers an informative and entertaining collection of essays for students of cultural anthropology, social history and gender studies.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

Prof. em. Dr. Jan Nicolaas Bremmer (Ph.D., Free University Amsterdam, 1979) is Professor emeritus for Religious Studies in the Faculty for Religious Studies and Theology at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, where he twice held the post of Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies.

Reviews

[Alexandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5: really enjoyed this!! the topics range really widely, so there’s something for everyone. some chapters were super engaging, while others dragged on a bit. even the ones that dragged on were interesting, though, if a little drawn out. a lot of the authors also included phrases and paragraphs in different languages, which are easily googleable, but it takes you out of the book a bit when it happens. i definitely recommend!

[Fiona Montgomery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not memorable