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Catharine Arnold

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City of Sin: London and Its Vices Hardcover – January 1, 2010

by Catherine Arnold (Author), Illustrated (Illustrator)

4.2 367 ratings

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For over a thousand years, England’s capital has been associated with desire, avarice, and the sins of the flesh. This is the author’s book on vice through the ages. From bath houses and brothels of Roman Londinium, to the stews and Molly houses of the 17th and 18th centuries. London has always traded in the currency of sex. The author takes the reader on a journey through the fleshpots of London from earliest times to present day. The book includes chapters looking at Victorian London and the sexual underground of the 20th century and beyond. Raw and ribald. Fascinating.

Print length

373 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Simon & Schuster
Publication date

January 1, 2010
Dimensions

5.75 x 1.18 x 8.9 inches
ISBN-10

1847373518
ISBN-13

978-1847373519
See all details

Catharine Arnold
347
Paperback
30 offers from $4.68

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition (January 1, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 373 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1847373518
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847373519
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.18 x 8.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,886,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 367 ratings

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About the author

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Catharine Arnold

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Catharine Arnold read English at the University of Cambridge and holds a further degree in psychology. She is the author of 'Necropolis London and its Dead', 'Bedlam London and its Mad' 'City of Sin London and its Vices' and 'Underworld London City of Crime.' 'Globe, the World of Shakespeare's London' was published by Simon & Schuster in April 2015. 'Edward VII The Prince of Wales and the Women He Loved' was published by St Martin's Press in 2017. Catharine's previous books include 'Lost Time',which won a Betty Trask award, and 'Changeling,' both published by Hodder & Stoughton. Catharine's latest book, 'Pandemic 1918, Eyewitness Accounts from the Greatest Medical Holocaust in Modern History,' will be published by St Martin's Press in August 2018.

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4.2 out of 5

367 global ratings

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Amelia Hipple

It’s fun.

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2023

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This book is a rather fun read for those of us into history books in general (which get quite dry).

There are a few points where I got distracted and things started running together but I don’t think it detracted from the overall work. The content is exactly what it says on the tin. Lots of the oldest profession in historical London.

I originally started reading with a library copy, but once it was time to return I bought my own. I think that’s speaks the most to if I like a book or not!

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Paul Stevens

A metropolis of sinful pleasures unveiled.

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2012

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London. Ancient, bold, rich in culture and history, a metropolitan melting pot that has oozed sex and vice for much of its distinguished history. Catharine Arnold is a knowledgeable historian with a flair for the written word, which when combined with her intimate grasp of the subject matter at hand, makes her a most entertaining read. Follow Catharine as she leads you on a journey through the sexual history of London. From early depictions of a prostitute dating back to 1058, to the origins of the now tourist friendly Covent Garden as a den of inequity, the haunt of the purveyors and participants of vibrant sex trade, through to modern London and the more discreet activities of upper class escorts versus the gaudier displays of sin dotted all around Soho.

City of Sin is informative, witty, irreverent, tragic, troubled and above all, honest about London's thousands of years history with vice and sin, and touches upon all aspects of it, from the men and women who sold themselves to pleasure seekers, to researchers who embroiled themselves in the darker aspects of London society, to the call girls and madams who made it, to those poor souls who didn't, as well as the law that both indulged in it and outlawed it, and ultimately, could do nothing to stop it.

5 people found this helpful

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mitzi

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2017

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I enjoyed this book and it was WELL researched.

2 people found this helpful

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Paul Lawrence

Salacious but not cheap or hysterical

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2018

Obviously aiming for the salacious angle author Catharine Arnold has here compiled a history of the sex industry in London. From Roman times through to the circa 2010 the tale of the 'game' is told in a flowing not-too-academic style but written seriously enough to be taken seriously. The book is hardly a dry tome but the author has avoided descending into tabloid titillation.

As the tales progress and more and more reference material becomes available the stories become more in-depth. Much of the book speaks of the way in which the wealthy aristocratic class - and the church - were doing one thing while trying to keep a lid on the behaviours of the middle and working class. Example after example is given of the sorts of things certain members of the gentry and their ladies were getting up to while at the same time laws were being enacted to quell the same sort of activities amongst the great unwashed. Happily the author doesn't seem to be aiming too much at the class war 'I'm on your side' angle of attack but is more interested in the social history of the double standard.

Areas such as STD's, homosexuality and the age of consent are covered and some of it is eye opening indeed. Squeamish readers need not apply, but then probably wouldn't want to anyway....

All up this was an entertaining work that goes into a good amount of detail without feeling like a university thesis. There are pages of notes at the end and a useful bibliography.

3 people found this helpful

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Donald E. Gilliland

Entertaining Account of the Sexy City

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2015

This is a fascinating historical account of the many centuries of sex and sin in the city of London. The author obviously did a lot of research and it shows in this exhaustive account of the city and "those who indulge in the sins of the flesh." Amidst the copious anecdotes and accounts are some truly hilarious tales as well. Truly, London had its share of "buxom strumpets, louche aristocrats, popinjay politicians and Victorian flagellants."

Arnold goes beyond the standard players of the scene, past the streetwalkers and bordello owners and porn publishers, and looks at the colorful cast clients as well. And it's not all standard heterosexual affairs either, Arnold also offers a revealing look at the long-running gay and lesbian sex scene, including the sensational trial of Oscar Wilde, as he battled "the last arrows of Victorian hypocrisy."

And indeed, in years past and present, there has been a lot of hypocrisy involved in prostitution and sexual matters. This history of the city's sinful past would not be complete without an account of the double-standards and over-reaction of the "general public" to what in most cases is typical human sexual behavior. As Arnold points out many times, what is "sin" to some repressed individuals is normal to many others.

2 people found this helpful

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Lola092563

There's No Sin New Under The Sun

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2012

From the time of the Roman era "Londinium" till today; Londoners have been "getting their freak on" whether with prostitutes or committed partners. The author's well researched telling of London's history and the lives of its everyday inhabitants, reaffirmed my belief that there truly isn't anything new under the sun. Which also makes the reader ponder the intricacies of human sexuality, and really how little it's changed over time.

The author uses source documents to tell this history in an engaging style, with the appropriate dose of humor here and there, from Roman era London to the 20th century. There is a fair amount of the history of prostitution and brothels from the prostitute's and customer's points of view. I suspect this is due to the fact that there exists criminal and public records of prostitution. However, the way prostitution was viewed, controlled, practiced and punished provides a sociological view into the different eras. The author also includes the infamous Jack the Ripper murders, and how changes in prostitution laws may have contributed to the abundance of streetwalkers which the Ripper preyed upon.

As well, the author details some of the city's famous "sex scandals": Trial of Oscar Wilde & The Profumo Affair among others.

A good read for anyone who enjoys British history especially.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Graham

An Absolute must of a read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2023

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Brilliant book extremely well written. Shows London in it's true light from Roman times to the current day.

Westerner

Sex in London and at length

Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2014

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I expected better from Catherine Arnold. When you have read one dissertation about variations on sexual encounters you have probably covered most of the topic but this seemed never ending. I seldom put away a book unfinished but this was one.. I am not prudish but it became boring.

The Keen Reader

Sin, vice, everywhere!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2012

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This is a very entertaining story of the history of `sinful vices' in London (although background material often comes from further afield). I have not read any of the author's other books about London - death, and madness are analysed in these books, but will look out for them.

I feel compelled to point out some errors - page 44 states that after King Henry VI of England died, "his son Edward IV" took the throne. Edward IV was in no shape or form Henry VI's son - Henry's son Edward was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. Henry VI was deposed by Edward, son of Richard, Duke of York, who died at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, during the Wars of the Roses. Edward IV went on to rule until his death in 1483.

On page 53, Hugh Weston is listed as Dean of Windsor - he was not Dean of Windsor until 1556, after he was induced to resign as Dean of Westminster on the return of Westminster Abbey to its monastic character. In 1557, he was removed as Dean of Winsor by Cardinal Pole for "gross immorality". Protestant writers (in 1557, Mary I was still the Catholic ruler of England) wrote of Weston's moral delinquincies at the time (including his adultery)

On page 55, I do not believe that Anne Boleyn was charged under the Buggery Act of 1533, although she was charged with adultery and incest. The first conviction under this act was Walter Hungerford in 1540. Although found guilty of "unnatural vices" his real crime was treason (both that of himself as well as his associates) following from the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536.

From then, I found less to jar my senses. It seems that the author was not in her comfort zone when writing of medieval times; but once the book moved chronologically forward to Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and later times, the work became more of a "social" history of London's sinners, rather than a straight "historical" narrative taken from other sources. This is clearly the author's strength - the social history of the later periods, written wittily and engagingly. We learn of the usual suspects, such as Oscar Wilde, and many others who are not so well known. Some parts of the book are inclined to make the reader blush; but it's all presented clearly and informatively. I shall look to read some of the author's other books quite happily.

18 people found this helpful

Lynn

Excellent Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2023

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I was transfixed by this book. It is so well written, drawing us into a world that still remains the same and in spite of the hurdles it has faced is still thriving. Fascinating book

One person found this helpful

John Baldwin

WOW!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2020

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A lot of unsavoury chartacters in this interesting book

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