This work investigates how the concept of desire has been constructed, regulated, and transformed across European history from the Enlightenment to the present day. Anna J. Clark, a professor of history, utilizes a broad range of primary sources including legal documents, literature, and personal correspondence to trace the evolution of sexual norms. She argues that desire is not a static biological impulse but a historically contingent phenomenon shaped by political, religious, and social power structures.

Historians and scholars of gender studies frequently cite this text as a comprehensive overview of the social history of sexuality in Europe. The prose is noted for its accessibility while maintaining rigorous academic standards for historical analysis.