Customer Reviews

London: The Synfulle Citie

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

with many a good detail; a fine historical review of the london behind the tea cups and ceremony.

E. J. Burford's shockingly dirty book takes a candid look at the inhabitants and the 'belly' of London from the time of the Romans till the end of the 18th century.
It is a mind-boggling naturalistic portrait of the very few (the rich and powerful) and the many (those who lacked a penny).
In the latter category we find women with their tragic destiny: jus cunni, incest, rape, illiteracy. They mostly had no other means for survival than prostitution. The brothels were run by ... the clergy and the rich and powerful. William the Conqueror owned three of them.
Other damned classes were the slaves and the poor, whose life was at risk every day. As J. Swift said: the poor had no other choice than to 'steal to be hanged'.

Overall, the living standard, even for the mighty, was truly catastrophic: absolutely no hygiene, immense spread of venereal diseases, violence, murder, barbarous executions and rampant corruption.

The few and the many met each other in the brothels.
'Those who were riche were hangid by the Pursse;
Those who were poore were hangid by the Necke.'

We find here also a confirmation of Matt Ridley's thesis that the Church tried to prevent that married couples had children. The Holy Fathers had nothing against fornication because they ran the brothels. In fact, the Holy Fathers were not first born masculine children. By preventing that the first born got an heir, they had a chance to take his place and properties.

E.J. Burford tells us also who invented the 'cundum'.

This book contains excellent naturalistic and expressive illustrations and texts.

A very original and important book that constitutes a reminder for everybody of us of 'where we all come from'.
A must read.