Venus in Furs
Ritter von Leopold Sacher-Masoch, 1870
This famous erotic and somewhat autobiographical work is
actually the origin of the term masochism (for those who wonder, we can thank
the Marquis de Sade for “sadism”). The protagonist, Severin, is infatuated by a
beautiful woman and offers himself as her slave. Obsessed with his total
submission to her, he urges the woman, Wanda, to humiliate and degrade him more
and more cruelly as the story goes on. The book is focused on fetish and
S&M, and remains very popular.
It’s more of a literary drama than the usual explicit
offering. You can read the book on-line. Roman Polanski adopted Venus in Furs
for the silver screen in 2012.
The Autobiography of a Flea
Anonymous, 1887 or 1888
A work of social satire with a wafer thin plot containing
many erotic scenes as witnessed by a flea (hitching a ride on a young woman)
traveling from home to home and peeping at the sexual activities of the
residents. What does the flea see? Quite a lot, including explicit intimacy,
group encounters, lusty priests, seduction of the innocent, deflowering,
incest, corporal punishment, and bukkake. Many of the characters are caricature
types that would have been recognized by 19th century readers.
The Lustful Turk
Anonymous, 1828
Another slight cheat since this one’s pre-Victorian, but the
popular and notorious novel remained in print even into the 20th century. Given
the 19th century appetite for exotic places and cultures (and more than a touch
of xenophobia), the Lustful Turk satisfied readers on several levels. An
English lady writes letters to her friends back home about her capture by Turks
and forcible ravishment, after which she wholeheartedly embraces a variety of
explicit, erotic encounters with men and women in the Sultan’s harem. The book
is so popular it was even made into a sexploitation film in 1968.
The Mysteries of Verbena House
Etonensius, 1881
Also know as Miss Bellasis Birched for Thieving, this book
is one of the classics of Victorian erotica showcasing the 19th century
fascination with discipline. It was first published in two volumes with
illustrations. When naughtiness like theft ensues at a fashionable girls’
boarding school, the wishy-washy headmistress calls in a stern male
disciplinarian to oversee the lovingly described chastisements and intimate
encounters of students and staff. Applications of punishment effect positive
changes to everyone’s morality and character. The authorship of Verbena House
has been in dispute for over a century.
The Whippingham Papers
St. George Stock, 1887
Spanking
The most notable detail of this book is the flagellation
themed poetry of Algernon Charles Swinbure. All the stories and other poems in
the volume deal with the so-called “English vice.” A small sample of
Swinburne’s unsigned work is included here. Possibly due to the prevalence of
harsh corporal punishment at school and at home, many Victorian gentlemen
enjoyed reading about the birch and the cane (and paying for similar treatment
in popular flagellation brothels). While the volume is not on-line, you might
find a reprint.
How those great big red ridges must smart as they swell!
How the Master does like to flog Algernon well!
How each cut makes the blood come in thin little streaks
From that broad blushing round pair of naked red cheeks.
Gynecocracy
Attributed to “Viscount Ladywood,” 1893
This is a fine example of the so-called “petticoat
governance books.” While Englishmen may have been lords and masters of their
homes and families, it’s clear from the popularity of this type of novel that
many had secret submissive longings. This particular example features lots of
incidents in which a young man is forced to wear women’s clothes, including a
corset, and serve very dominant females’ whims as a young woman. The narrative
includes explicit encounters with women and men, humiliation, bondage,
discipline, a drag king, and some imaginative corporal punishments.
