This book investigates the historical construction of desire and sexuality in the Ottoman Empire. Ze'evi examines how notions of desire, pleasure, and the body were shaped by legal, religious, and social discourses from the medieval period through the early modern era. The work draws on a wide range of archival sources, including legal court records, religious rulings, and literary texts, to reconstruct the complex and often contradictory understandings of sexuality that prevailed.

This scholarly work is recognized for its deep engagement with primary sources and its nuanced exploration of a complex subject. Scholars have noted Ze'evi's meticulous research and his contribution to understanding the social and cultural history of the Ottoman Empire. The book is considered a significant text for those studying gender, sexuality, and Middle Eastern history.