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Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale (Hardback)
  • Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale (Hardback)
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Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale (Hardback)

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£25.00
Hardback 256 Pages
Published: 07/10/2021
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The history of selling sex is a hidden one, its practitioners a ‘damnable crew’ pushed to the margins of history. Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts redresses the balance, revealing the history of sex for sale, from medieval back street to Wild West saloon, and from the brothel to state bedroom. This enthralling history is brought to life by Kate Lister’s witty and authoritative text, and illuminated by a rich archive of photographs, artworks and objects.

Structured thematically in broadly chronological order, the book introduces a lively cast of complex and entertaining characters operating in an array of different periods and settings. The Mesopotamian harlot Shamhat was powerful and respected, able to civilize the wild man Enkidu through her charms. In medieval London Elizabeth Moryng serviced clergy under the guise of an embroidery business, though was eventually jailed for being a prolific procuress and bawd. In Renaissance Venice the courtesan Veronica Franco published her poetry, rubbed shoulders with royalty and founded a charity for other courtesans. In the hedonistic floating world of Edo, Japan, kabuki actresses and then geishas entertained and pleasured their patrons. Three men were hanged in 18th-century London for buggery after being found in the Molly House of Margaret Clap. And at the turn of the century, in New Orleans, Lulu White ran Mahogany Hall, a four-storey building that housed up to forty sex workers.

Lister’s illuminating tales invite readers to look, listen and reconsider everything they thought they knew about the world’s oldest profession.

With 450 illustrations in colour

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
ISBN: 9780500252444
Number of pages: 256
Weight: 970 g
Dimensions: 240 x 170 mm


MEDIA REVIEWS

'Lavishly illustrated … full of interesting nuggets' - Sunday Times

'The range of Lister’s scholarship is impressive ... a fascinating book about a subject too often swept under the rug. It’s also very beautiful, magnificently designed and packed with hundreds of superb photos ... packs a powerful bite' - The Times

'An engrossing exploration of individual lives and societies’ approaches to sex work across the centuries … [Lister] showcases incredible stories of agency and freedom while also recognising social stigmatisation and hardship' - Dr Fern Riddell, BBC History Magazine

'Engaging, readable and written with humour, compassion and sensitivity' - Catherine Curzon, All About History

'Fascinating' - Daily Mail

'A beautiful volume, magnificently designed and packed with superb photos – a coffee-table book that packs a powerful punch' - The Times, History Books of the Year 2021

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“Another great read from kate lister”

I read "A curious history of sex" by Lister before this, and this book also lived up to my expectations. It's just an enjoyable read, informative over a wide cover of periods etc and the visuals and... More

Hardback edition
1 similar book recommended
Helpful? Upvote 8

“Forgot sacred prostitution”

Excellent research. Forgot sacred prostitution, from Gilgamesh in Sumer onwards

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 8

“Selling sex is a product of capitalism and commerce- the demand for the product tells you more about the consumer than it does about the supplier.”

This is a book I didn't know I needed to read until I sat down, read it, and realised how little I knew about the history of sex for sale- and how much more I wanted to know.

After a brief introduction, Lister... More

Hardback edition
3 similar books recommended
Helpful? Upvote 7

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