1001 Reading Challenge: Fanny Hill

For my first book in this challenge, I decided to read Fanny Hill because it was the oldest book that I placed on my list. I thought that it would be the most boring and therefore I wanted to get it over with. Boy was I wrong!!

Fanny Hill tells the story of a young orphan who is brought to the city by her parents' friend who drops her off and basically tells her to "be good". Fanny is extremely immature and naive and almost immediately, and unknowingly, becomes a woman of the night. She falls in love various times, only to be cast aside and return to her life as a prostitute. It is an old story that has been retold over the century. However, the original is always the best!

The most shocking aspect of the novel is that it is basically erotica. The sex scenes are even more graphic than those in some contemporary novels. In addition, Cleland describes heterosexual intercourse, homosexual intercourse as well as orgies and various other sexual relations. In fact, Fanny's first experience with sex is a learning experience with another woman who teaches her how to get pleasure from herself as well as from her partner. The explicit descriptions do not just end with the sexual acts but also include extremely realistic depictions of penises, the scrotum, and orgasms. This probably sounds like something from Howard Stern or out of Valley of the Dolls. Yet, this novel was written in 1748!!!! It is over 260 years old! This is the most startling (and possibly the most important) aspect of the book. It has officially been banned at various schools and libraries. Though I don't agree with banning books, I can completely understand why even modern audiences would find this novel to be too risque.

-DLP