Eighteenth-Century British Erotica II

Each of this set's five volumes has its own editor, who provides an introduction and notes. General editor Pettit offers a general introduction, light in tone yet serious in substance--a good description of some of the pieces, although the reverse is true as well, because many are parodies of seriousness. He reflects on the subversive and outsider nature of this literature and its point of view, noting that the authors of the works reproduced here "...knew that the antidote to choking sophistication is crudity; to starchiness, license; to the sequential plot, randomness; to dreary hymns, bawdy ballads, and...to tedious and abusive husbands, dildos and dandies." The genre is eminently worthy of study, for the continuing entertainment value of some pieces, for the historical value of others, and for the light this historical background can shed on the ongoing cultural debates concerning pornography, censorship, and entertainment. Approximately 50 selections from the 1700s are reproduced in facsimile, so those seeking a cheap thrill should know there's work involved in deciphering the typography and language. Perhaps mercifully, though it would be amusing, the pieces are not indexed. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)