08/12/10 Vintage Erotica

So, on pondering the big question this morning "Is there a middle ground between sleazy porn and the pathetically moral romance novel where the female lead just happens to have a good lusty romp with the man of her (yawn)dreams - after overcoming a few emotional hurdles, of course".... I thought I'd check out a bit of Vintage Erotica.

One of the things I love about modern technology (I'm talking about my iPhone here) is that I can be on the bus, have a notion, and investigate it immediately.  The slightly embarrassing thing is that I'm then reading what equates to porn on the bus at 8.00am - people will insist on peaking over your shoulder, it's not my fault if they're freaked out.  That said, I did kinda eak myself out this morning; those Victorians, crikey...a lusty lot, and a little wrong in the head if you ask me!

So what is this book I hear you ask?? Tis titled 'Vintage Erotica: Four Victorian Novels in a single file, improved 08/23/10 (Kindle Edition)'  One Author is anonymous and the other is Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch, who I think gets a prize for most pretentiously difficult to pronounce name - well done that young man!  There's quite a classy image of a (probably) famous depiction of Adam and Eve (the original temptress - rock on with your bad self and much respect m'lady!) in the Garden of Eden.  So from the title and the front cover there's not much to indicate that it's going to 'get you going'.

I'll skip the first story (it was but a nipple tweak of titillation) and crack straight on to the second which starts with a very young boy (about 8 years old) who 'cuddles' the naked nanny whilst she pleasures herself and then from the age of 12 starts having sex with his Aunt whilst fantasizing that it's his Mother (oh and the Aunt is in to S&M).  The Aunt and the Mother both shag the father to near death on occasion, but it's OK because they fortify his stamina with a little wine and good food (Huh??). Frankly, it's all a bit fucked up.  I do like the writing style though and, like picking at a scab, will need to read the book in it's entirety, just to see how low it goes.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not originally from the UK but wrapping sordid tales (of what amounts to incest) up in beautiful language is not as morally abrasive a read as it should be.  And that 'Mother Fantasy' of his; Freud would have just shrugged his shoulders and said "but of course!".

I am entering a whole world of wrong here; will keep you posted!