When Flesh Becomes Word: An Anthology of Early Eighteenth-Century Libertine Literature
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Author Description
When Flesh Becomes Word collects nine different examples of British libertine literature that appeared before 1750. Three of these--The School of Venus (1680), Venus in the Cloister (1725), and A Dialogue Between a Married Lady and a Maid (1740)--are famous "whore dialogues," dramatic conversations between an older, experienced woman and a younger, inexperienced maid. Previously unavailable in an affordable edition, these dialogues combine sex education, medical folklore, and erotic literature in a decidedly proto-pornographic form. This edition presents other important examples of libertine literature, including bawdy poetry, a salacious medical treatise, an irreverent travelogue, and a criminal biography. The combination of both popular and influential texts presented in this edition provides an accessible introduction to the variety of material available to eighteenth-century readers before the publication of John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure in 1749.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This anthology investigates the development and cultural significance of British libertine literature produced prior to 1750. Bradford K. Mudge, a scholar of eighteenth-century literature, compiles a diverse range of texts to demonstrate how early erotic writing functioned as a precursor to later pornographic conventions. By examining these works, the author argues that libertine literature served as a complex intersection of sex education, medical discourse, and social critique within the British literary landscape.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Nine distinct examples of British libertine literature published before 1750.
- Three complete "whore dialogues" including The School of Venus and Venus in the Cloister.
- A variety of literary forms such as bawdy poetry, medical treatises, travelogues, and criminal biographies.
- Contextual analysis regarding the evolution of erotic prose leading up to the publication of Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of eighteenth-century studies view this collection as a vital resource for accessing rare texts that were previously difficult to obtain. The volume is recognized for its utility in providing a historical framework for understanding the development of erotic literature in the early modern period.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
2004-04-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195161882
ISBN-13:
9780195161885
History
Erotica
British literature
Eighteenth Century
Literary Criticism
Anthology
Community Tags
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