Fanny Hill: or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (Modern Library Classics) [Paperback]

John Cleland (Author), Gary Gautier (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Modern Library Classics | Publication Date: September 11, 2001

Fanny Hill, shrouded in controversy for most of its more than 250-year life, and banned from publication in the United States until 1966, was once considered immoral and without literary merit, even earning its author a jail sentence for obscenity.

The tale of a naïve young prostitute in bawdy eighteenth-century London who slowly rises to respectability, the novel–and its popularity–endured many bannings and critics, and today Fanny Hill is considered an important piece of political parody and sexual philosophy on par with French libertine novels.

This uncensored version is set from the 1749 edition and includes commentary by Charles Rembar, the lawyer who defended the novel in the 1966 U.S. Supreme Court case, and newly commissioned notes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A rare achievement . . . a ray of sunshine in the gloomy world of lust."
--Erica Jong

From the Inside Flap

Fanny Hill, shrouded in controversy for most of its more than 250-year life, and banned from publication in the United States until 1966, was once considered immoral and without literary merit, even earning its author a jail sentence for obscenity.

The tale of a naïve young prostitute in bawdy eighteenth-century London who slowly rises to respectability, the novel–and its popularity–endured many bannings and critics, and today Fanny Hill is considered an important piece of political parody and sexual philosophy on par with French libertine novels.

This uncensored version is set from the 1749 edition and includes commentary by Charles Rembar, the lawyer who defended the novel in the 1966 U.S. Supreme Court case, and newly commissioned notes.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Modern Library (September 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375758089
• ISBN-13: 978-0375758089
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,576,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy classic, July 10, 2003

By 

Michael Cornett "Madman" (Takoma Park, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fanny Hill: Or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This book is fascinating, not merely as an erotic novel (and the historical significance of this book cannot be denied) but also as a glimpse of society and mores of the mid-18th century.

Fanny is an orphaned girl who goes to London to Seek Her Fortune and ends up with a career alternating between prostitution and being a kept woman. Unlike most porn, she's not always happy about her sexual encounters, and there are times when she's heartbroken over a lost love. She's decieved by a woman who claims to be hiring her "as a companion," in a another scene she's exploited by a money-hungry landlord.

As she grows older, though, Fanny becomes more in charge of her sexuality and more open to exploration. We, as readers, also see a glimpse of 18th-century prostitution and the demimonde of kept mistresses (which many wealthy men of the period kept).

Hardly a rollicking farce (there are times when sex has serious consequences) but at times it is humorous. Never crass or vulgar, but nevertheless explicit, this bawdy gem is worth checking out. Fanny is always honest about herself and what she does to survive, and pulls no punches. (I took away a star because, at times, it is difficult going because of the outdated language, but don't let that deter you.)

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic...come on now, September 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fanny Hill: Or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (Paperback)

The wellspring of all erotic fiction. How can anyone give less then 5 stars to a classic of its stature...especially such a classic with so many naughty bits. Of course it was written by a man...geez guys look at the first author on the list. Ok ok so maybe the 5th time you hear Fanny rapsodize about "from his prodigious size I feared he would rip me asunder" it starts to get a bit old (or maybe not for some), but on the other hand, this is the erotica everyone grew up on before the days of xrated magazines. Just think...a naughty book your grandmother couldn't disaprove of...she probably read it too.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An innocently erotic and exciting book., November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fanny Hill: Or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (Paperback)

I was astonished when I read the book. It is really erotic and therefore a real book of this century. And it is filled with all the ingredients you need to have a successful book; drama, despair, love and sex. You can compare it with novels written today, and it will still stand out as somewhat extraordinary. What can I say, except for: read it! The book will make your heart beat faster and your body become warmer. It will keep you warm through the whole winter!