Sexuality was a subject often swept under the rug during the Edwardian Era, considered improper for open discussion. However, the rise of erotic literature served as a counterpoint to this societal taboo. The Edwardian era saw a mix of print and manuscript distribution. While printed works were more accessible, manuscripts often circulated privately among the elite, especially for works considered too risqué for the general public.

Next night we repeated our lascivious amusements, and she produced a thing like a sausage, made of soft kid leather, and stuffed out as hard as possible, which she asked me to push into her, and work up and down, whilst she frigged me as before, making me lay on the top of her, with my tongue in her mouth. It was delightful. I can't express her raptures, my movements with the instrument seemed to drive her into ecstasies of pleasure, she almost screamed as she clasped my body to hers, exclaiming, "Ah! Oh! You dear boy; you kill me with pleasure!" as she spent with extraordinary profusion all over my busy hand. From 1901 to 1910, the Edwardian Era was a transformative period in British history that ushered in significant social, cultural, and political changes. Marked by the reign of King Edward VII, this era was a time of optimism and progress, serving as a bridge between the Victorian age and the onset of the First World War.In recent years, Edwardian erotic literature has gained academic interest, with scholars examining its role in cultural history, its impact on literature, and its contributions to discussions around sexuality and gender.

These works were often considered scandalous for their time but played a crucial role in challenging societal norms and opening up conversations around these topics. This famous erotic and somewhat autobiographical work is actually the origin of the term masochism (for those who wonder, we can thank the Marquis de Sade for “sadism”). The protagonist, Severin, is infatuated by a beautiful woman and offers himself as her slave. Obsessed with his total submission to her, he urges the woman, Wanda, to humiliate and degrade him more and more cruelly as the story goes on. The book is focused on fetish and S&M, and remains very popular. I suggested that, as we were alone (and I had no intention of looking) that he could act as though he were alone. He protested initially, but then agreed on my suggestion that we both do likewise, with neither of us observing the other. Frank Harris (1856-1931) was a writer and editor and a friend of Oscar Wilde (Harris actually warned Wilde to not pursue the libel suit against Queensberry which would ruin Wilde). *My Life and Loves* was, according to Harris, autobiographical, and he released four volumes during his lifetime. The first volume was published in a private edition in Paris in 1922, while the final volume was published posthumously in 1954 by the famed Olympia Press. Although this volume was largely edited and rewritten by writer Alexander Trocchi and is considered to be the least interesting of the five volumes, it is the one often reprinted and published under the title of *My Life and Loves*. You can read more about this book here>

The class system was more than just a social construct; it was a gatekeeper that determined who had access to education and, by extension, literature. The upper classes had the privilege of education and leisure time to engage with literature, including the emerging genre of erotic literature. Kearney compiled the catalogue of The Private Case, the collection of books in the British Library not openly circulated. While not entirely new, it found a more accepting and curious audience during the Edwardian years. This genre pushed societal boundaries, offering an alternative to the conventional romantic narratives of the time and daring to explore themes often considered too risqué for polite society. Ah my head aches a little, let me recline it in your lap," said Alice, throwing off her hat, and stretching herself along on a cushion. "Why are you so precise this morning, Willie? You know I don't like to be called Miss, you can keep that for Lucy." Then noticing his confusion, "You may blush, sir, I could make you sink into your shoes if you only knew all I have seen between you and Miss Lucy."