John Cleland

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (commonly known as Fanny Hill), the most famous erotic novel in English, was denounced by its author as ''a Book I disdain to defend, and wish, from my soul, buried and forgot''. Cleland''s critics too condemned the ''infamous'' and ''poisonous'' novel when it first appeared in 1748-9. But the proliferation of editions, adaptations, and translations since then bears witness not only to the popularity of scandalous novels, but also to the book''s literary merit. Recounted with a lively use of metaphor and some curiously moral asides, Fanny Hill''s boisterous education as a London prostitute never quite effaces the ingenuous charm of her country upbringing, and her story places her among the great heroines of eighteenth-century literature. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

John Cleland napsal svůj román během pobytu ve vězení pro dlužníky Fleet Prison, kde strávil více než rok za dluh 840 liber (dnes přibližně sto tisíc liber). Kniha byla v té době naprosto šokující. Obsahuje příběh londýnské kurtizány vyprávěný v první osobě a zaměřuje se na otevřený popis lidského pohlavního styku a některých sexuálních úchylek, přičemž nikdy nepřekračuje únosnou hranici. Naopak vykazuje výrazné literární kvality pro svou dobu a zobrazuje mravy tehdejší londýnské společnosti, včetně dvojího života vážených politiků, diplomatů, státních úředníků a bohatých obchodníků. Cleland v tomto díle rovněž vyjadřuje názor, že lidské štěstí spočívá v tělesné lásce.

Following the death of her parents, a young and innocent Fanny Hill travels to London to find work. She has barely arrived, however, when she is lured into a brothel and has a sexual experience with another woman. A costumer gets her out of there and becomes her lover, but a whole new world has opened to Fanny, who sets out to explore all the pleasures her body has in store for her.

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, popularly known as Fanny Hill, is a novel by John Cleland.Written in 1748 while Cleland was in debtor's prison in London, it is considered the first modern "erotic novel" in English, and has become a byword for the battle of censorship of erotica.