Sexual Perversions, 1670–1890

by Julie Peakman (Editor)

A fascinating glimpse into the history of sexual perversions and diversions including fetishism, cross-dressing, 'effeminate' men and 'masculinized' women, sodomy, tribadism, masturbation, necrophilia, rape, paedophilia, flagellation, and sado-masochism, asking how these sexual inclinations were viewed at a particular time in history.

Genres: History, Sexuality, BDSM, 21st Century, Nonfiction

305 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first part of the book describes the "qualities" which were held up and the " vices" of the social organieation of the 17th and 18th century England as well the prices paid for transgression, the methods used in the normalization of the behavior which would be violent and abhorrent for us or eschewing analysis of the behavior considered normalized today, the middle part of the book lacks the necessary distance between the subject and the study, as well as introducing contemporary and problematic notions in an otherwise quality material, despite the presence of a historical distance and the lack of cross cultural analysis in the context of a foreign research subject. Some notions are particularly laughable, such as the universalization of psychoanalisis beyond a guilt-based Catholic society for which it was developed or the "necro-gaze". Overall, very little to none of the new information in theresearch about China and India, a good approach in case of China, but very few sources, some of most of whic h must have been read only in a cursory fashion. The title is misleading.