Paperback: The Origins of Sex by Faramerz Dabhoiwala (Penguin, £10.99)

 
Origin's of Sex Books p43 14/02 edition
14 February 2013

We think of the Sexual Revolution as something that took place in the 1960s, don’t we? Well, says Dabhoiwala, an Oxford academic, there was another sexual revolution, in the 17th century. Before this, in the Middle Ages, people were put to death for adultery. The situation: “All sex outside marriage was illegal, and the church, the state, and ordinary people devoted huge efforts to suppressing and punishing it.” Luckily, things changed. But very, very slowly. Gradually, people became freer — starting with rich men, of course. This is a detailed account, full of facts, anecdotes and analysis. There are lots of surprises. Jeremy Bentham thought it would be good if we were more tolerant of sodomy — because this might put a dent in the scourge of masturbation.

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