Skip to content
A Curious History of Sex (Paperback)
  • A Curious History of Sex (Paperback)
zoom

A Curious History of Sex (Paperback)

(author)
£12.99
Paperback 464 Pages
Published: 04/02/2021
Notify me when available

Stay one step ahead and let us notify you when this item is next available to order.

Waterstones Says

Humanity has always had a complicated relationship with sexual intercourse and Lister’s breezily accessible and wickedly witty tour through centuries of slap and tickle is a truly eye-opening history. 

This is not a comprehensive study of every sexual quirk, kink and ritual across all cultures throughout time, as that would entail writing an encyclopaedia. Rather, this is a drop in the ocean, a paddle in the shallow end of sex history, but I hope you will get pleasantly wet nonetheless.

The act of sex has not changed since people first worked out what went where, but the ways in which society dictates how sex is culturally understood and performed have varied significantly through the ages. Humans are the only creatures that stigmatise particular sexual practices, and sex remains a deeply divisive issue around the world. Attitudes will change and grow - hopefully for the better - but sex will never be free of stigma or shame unless we acknowledge where it has come from.

Based on the popular research project Whores of Yore, and written with her distinctive humour and wit, A Curious History of Sex draws upon Dr Kate Lister's extensive knowledge of sex history. From medieval impotence tests to twentieth-century testicle thefts, from the erotic frescoes of Pompeii, to modern-day sex doll brothels, Kate unashamedly roots around in the pants of history, debunking myths, challenging stereotypes and generally getting her hands dirty.

This fascinating book is peppered with surprising and informative historical slang, and illustrated with eye-opening, toe-curling and meticulously sourced images from the past.

You will laugh, you will wince and you will wonder just how much has actually changed.

Publisher: Unbound
ISBN: 9781783529711
Number of pages: 464
Dimensions: 234 x 152 mm

You may also be interested in...

A History of Britain in Ten Enemies
Added to basket
Unruly
Added to basket
Paperback
£10.99 £8.99
The Wager
Added to basket
Paperback
£10.99 £8.99
The Rest is History
Added to basket
Nexus
Added to basket
Hardback
£28.00 £23.99
Killing Thatcher
Added to basket
Paperback
£10.99 £8.99
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Added to basket
Great-Uncle Harry
Added to basket
Paperback
£10.99 £8.99
The Golden Road
Added to basket
Hardback
£30.00 £24.99
Emperor of Rome
Added to basket
Paperback
£11.99 £9.49
Henry V
Added to basket
Hardback
£25.00 £20.99
Prisoners of Geography
Added to basket
Arnhem: Black Tuesday
Added to basket
Hardback
£25.00 £19.99
Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad
Added to basket
SAS Daggers Drawn
Added to basket
Hardback
£22.00 £16.99
Pax
Added to basket
Pax
Paperback
£12.99
Eighteen
Added to basket
Hardback
£22.00 £17.99
Question 7
Added to basket
Hardback
£18.99 £15.99
Jamie Lee at Trafford Centre

“Super Fascinating!!”

I've been following Kate and Whores of Yore on Twitter for a while and this quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint! I read this so quickly even though usually it... More

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 50

“Informative”

Well researched, very amusing and written by an expert. Don’t read it if you are an insecure male, we get a very bad press in the early chapters; and as Sir Tony Robinson said “a bit rude”.

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 48

“Educational, insightful, and briliant”

This book was a truly brilliant read. It covers everything from old condoms to bicyles in a funny yet educational way. Its incredibly easy to read, very well written, and deals with its subject matter wonderfully. I... More

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 34

Please sign in to write a review

Your review has been submitted successfully.