John Cleland's Fanny Hill: Or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure is an 18th-century erotic novel following a young woman's journey through London's sex trade, told in her own voice with wit and candor. Through Fanny's first-person narrative, Cleland creates a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of sex work and female sexuality that scandalized Georgian society and remains provocative today. The novel becomes both historical document and exploration of how women navigate survival and pleasure in a world that seeks to control their bodies.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Cleland gave Fanny agency and voice in an era when women's sexuality was either ignored or condemned. This novel reminds us that sex workers have always told their own stories, and that the most radical literature centers voices society wants to silence.

DETAILS: • Author: John Cleland • Publisher: Modern Library • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: September 11, 2001 • ISBN: 9780375758089 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days