Why read Fanny Hill?

Book cover of Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure

Book description

"Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" is an 18th-century erotic novel written by John Cleland and published in 1748. It's considered one of the earliest examples of erotic literature in English and has stirred controversy since its publication due to its explicit content.

The novel is presented as…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Fanny Hill as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Shane Herron

Author

I love a good scandalous read, and Cleland’s book, subtitled Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, is one of the most famous examples of literary smut. Purported to be the life story of a former prostitute, the book relays in detail the many exploits of its main character and her companions.

I love how creative Cleland gets in his descriptions: he took great pride in avoiding cursing, even as he relayed sexual exploits in obsessive detail. Tame by the standards of modern pornography, Cleland’s liberal and creative use of the phrase “balsamic injection” has made me unable to have…

From Shane's list on The funniest, weirdest, and most outrageous books of the Enlightenment.