Fanny Hill

By John Cleland,

Book cover of Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure

Book description

"Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" is an 18th-century erotic novel written by John Cleland and published in 1748. It's considered one of the earliest examples of erotic literature in English and has stirred controversy since its publication due to its explicit content.

The novel is presented as…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Fanny Hill as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love a good scandalous read, and Cleland’s book, subtitled Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, is one of the most famous examples of literary smut. Purported to be the life story of a former prostitute, the book relays in detail the many exploits of its main character and her companions.

I love how creative Cleland gets in his descriptions: he took great pride in avoiding cursing, even as he relayed sexual exploits in obsessive detail. Tame by the standards of modern pornography, Cleland’s liberal and creative use of the phrase “balsamic injection” has made me unable to have…

Want books like Fanny Hill?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Fanny Hill.

Browse books like Fanny Hill

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Age of Enlightenment, sexuality, and London?

Sexuality 48 books
London 860 books