Anonymous
The first and greatest of French literature's epics, this 11th-century tale of romance and heroism embodies all the power and majesty of its predecessors from other cultures. Its narrative framework echoes that of Greek and German myths, and it melds historic accounts from the Dark Ages of Europe with folklore from the Far East — along with the legends of the troubadours and stories from Virgil, Hebrew scriptures, and other sources.
The
The Romance of Lust is an anonymously written erotic novel, published during 1873-1876. It is told first-person by Charlie Roberts, a boy with an unusually large penis and corresponding lust for all things sexual. Beginning with his sexual initiation as a teenager, it follows his exploits in every kind of sexual activity with anyone from governesses to acquaintances, including the highly taboo homosexual sex, incest and pedophilia.
Nunneries have long been regarded as bastions of goodness and selfless service—with a dark underbelly of unbridled passion and sexual deviance. In The Nunnery Tales, a lusty young man enters into a convent disguised as a pious young woman—and all hell breaks loose. Add this erotic classic to your must-read list.
A young man undertakes to become the most thorough rake of the Victorian era. He begins by seducing schoolgirls then graduates to the wives and mothers of his acquaintances. He eventually moves to Paris, where he can indulge his debauchery completely.
This erotic novel was published anonymously in Victorian England and is highly evocative of the sensuality forbidden from mainstream literature at the time.
The Power of Mesmerism is a classic Victorian erotic novel that was originally published in 1891. It contains graphic sexual descriptions and themes. This risqué fictional foray into the nineteenth-century boudoir will finally put to rest the age-old presumption that the period was frumpy and repressed. A must-read for fans of steamy Victoriana.
The Autobiography of a Flea is a Victorian erotic novel narrated by a flea. A beautiful young innocent indulges her sexual curiosity. The act is witnessed by Father Ambrose who, instead of absolving her, steadily leads her into further sexual acts until she is in service to the Holy Community. Her aunt, uncle and cousin become embroiled in the sexual depravity of the church as well.
Recorded in sacred Sanskrit texts, including the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata, Hindu Myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century BCE. Here in these seventy-five seminal myths are the many incarnations of Vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child Krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents and monkeys. Immensely varied and bursting with colour
...10) Beowulf
The earliest extant heroic epic in any European vernacular, Beowulf is considered the most important poem in Old English. The title character is a warrior of superhuman strength who accomplishes glorious deeds to honor his king. He also represents the ideal lord and vassal, generous to his own men while fulfilling all the forms of courtesy at court. The narrative itself falls into two parts: Beowulf first rescues the royal house of Denmark from
...12) The Yellow Room
Skip those bland shades of gray and pay a visit to The Yellow Room instead. This erotic classic has the same strong themes of discipline and punishment, but without all the cheesy banter. The Yellow Room recounts the titillating tale of a beautiful young woman's sexual awakening at the hands of a harsh taskmaster on the grounds of a gorgeous country estate.
Dig more deeply into the sacred text of Christianity than ever before with this user-friendly translation of the Good Book. The World English Bible is a recent edition rendered in modern English which aspires to be more readily accessible to contemporary readers all over the world.
Immerse yourself in one of the most significant documents ever penned. Originally enacted in 1215, some sections of the Magna Carta remain on the books as legally enforced statutes in parts of the U.K. today. Legal and political scholars have detailed the Magna Carta's far-reaching influence on the development of the legal and sociocultural systems of countries around the world. This volume contains all three of the most relevant versions of the
...15) My Secret Life
This fascinating volume offers a frank look at sexual escapades in the Victorian era. Despite the common view of the period as a time when strict mores and chastity prevailed, the anonymous author of this explicitly detailed tome offers plenty of personal evidence to the contrary. According to his account, Victorians were as sensual, frisky, and sex-obsessed as the denizens of the twenty-first century. Dive into My Secret Life to find out
...Fans of the Marquis de Sade's work will relish this tale of the erotic adventures of the anonymous protagonist, who refers to himself only as Jack. Frustrated by the strict social mores of his age, Jack devises a plan to bring to life the rather violent sexual fantasies that have come to preoccupy him.
This classic erotic novel recounts the sensual adventures of Maudie, an experienced and insatiable young lady who flouts the strict mores of the age in which she lives and makes the most of her encounters with her paramour Charlie, as well as many other men. From intimate one-on-one flings to wild orgies, Maudie never turns down a chance to be naughty.
18) Forbidden Fruit
Forbidden Fruit is a classic Victorian erotic novel, published in 1898. It contains graphic sexual descriptions and themes. "'Come into bed, and cuddle me, Percy, I feel so chilly to night,' she whispered. Only too pleased I nestled myself by her side, still kissing and calling her my loving Auntie. Fate had ordained I was to lose my maidenhead that night, young as I was. Her hand passed all over me, caressing every part, and she freely
...Dip into the mysterious world of sorcery with this comprehensive take on the topic. Published anonymously due to the incendiary nature of the subject matter, Magic and Witchcraft offers a historical overview of magic throughout the ages, all rendered in the deliciously ornate prose of the nineteenth century. Reading this volume is like poring over one of the musty old textbooks that Harry Potter and his fellow students would have been issued
...Set out on the high seas with this rip-roaring collection of tales that shine some light on the famously murky world of piracy. These gripping historical accounts range from ocean voyages that went horribly awry to the dastardly deeds of some of the most notorious pirates in history.