Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.0/5)
Genre: Erotic Fiction / Classic Erotica / 18th Century Literature / Epistolary Novel

Book Review:
John Cleland’s Fanny Hill (1748-49) is one of the most notorious texts in English literature. As recently as 1963, an unexpurgated edition was the subject of an obscenity trial. Yet in the 18th century, this open celebration of sexual enjoyment was a bestseller. The novel takes the form of a confession: Fanny falls into prostitution and later rises to respectability, recounting her carnal adventures with vivid, explicit physiological detail. While it has long provoked moral outrage, modern critics have recognized its literary merit, historical importance, and even its humor. This Wordsworth Classics edition is complete and unexpurgated. Note: For adult readers only; explicit sexual content.