Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (Immortal Classics) - Softcover

Cleland, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1517679680 ISBN 13: 9781517679682

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015

Synopsis

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (popularly known as Fanny Hill) is an erotic novel by English novelist John Cleland first published in London in 1748. Written while the author was in debtors' prison in London, it is considered the first original English prose pornography, and the first pornography to use the form of the novel. One of the most prosecuted and banned books in history, it has become a synonym for obscenity. The book is written as a series of letters from Frances "Fanny" Hill to an unknown woman, with Fanny justifying her life-choices to this individual. At the beginning of her tale, Fanny Hill is a young girl with a rudimentary education living in a small village near Liverpool. Shortly after she turns 15, both her parents die. Esther Davis, a girl from Fanny's village who has since moved to London, convinces Fanny to move to the city as well, but Esther abandons Fanny once they arrive. Fanny hopes to find work as a maid, and is hired by Mrs. Brown, a woman she believes to be a wealthy lady. Mrs. Brown is in fact a madam (pimp) and intends the innocent Fanny to work for her as a prostitute. The book remains very popular and has been adapted for the screen at least eight times.

About this title

About the Author

John Cleland (1709–1789) was an English novelist best known as the author of Fanny Hill: or, the Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. In November 1749, Cleland was arrested, along with the publishers and printer of Fanny Hill. In court, Cleland disavowed the novel and said that he could only "wish, from my Soul," that the book be "buried and forgot" . The book was then officially withdrawn. It was never legally published again for over a hundred years. However, it continued to sell well and to be published in pirated editions. In March of 1750, Cleland produced a highly bowdlerized version of the book, but it, too, was proscribed; eventually, the prosecution against Cleland was dropped, and the expurgated edition continued to sell legally.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1517679680
• ISBN 13: 9781517679682
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 152