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The Pearl
The Pearl made its debut in London in July 1879, a self-proclaimed journal for every taste. It flourished on the subterranean market until December 1880, when it vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared. Included in the eighteen issues were six serialized novels that are standards of sensual literature of the time, as well as the meatiest limericks then current, parodies of Robert Burns’s Merry Muses, ballads of epic sexual adventures, countless ditties, witticisms, jokes, letters from “readers,” and a potpourri of the scatological and scandalous gossip of the day
643 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1879
186 people are currently reading
1082 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 14, 2013
The five stars is for its sheer INTERESTING-NESS, not really for the stories or writing quality. A fascinating historical artifact, giving startlingly concise evidence to "nothing new under the sun." I have fond memories of library coworker-friends passing our library's copy around for shock and giggles!
April 14, 2008
This book (a compilation of issues of an underground Victorian "literary porn" periodical)scared the crap out of me when I discovered it on my parents' bookshelf at the age of nine or ten, but when I happened on it again, many years later, I think I got it as I should: as hysterical, in more ways than one. This book is hilarious, outrageous, and yes, not a little creepy -- and what I want to know, more than anything else, is, "Who the hell was *writing* this, and how did they get the job?" (The magazine disappeared from the market as mysteriously as it arrived.)
January 17, 2011
The first few pages are nothing but rather silly and harmless soft porn in Victorian English. But then it gets foul and offensive. There is an emphasis on loss-of-virginity scenes in which the woman experiences excruciating pain, becomes unconscious and has to be revived with brandy, and then is immeasurably grateful for the experience. By the middle of the book fathers seduce teenage daughters and their sexual experiences are described in great detail. Nasty, nasty, nasty.
I have great respect for books and I know that a book I detest may be someone else's favorite or a delightful new discovery. So I always donate books I don't like to the Salvation Army or some such venue. Not this book. This book is going in the trash.
I have great respect for books and I know that a book I detest may be someone else's favorite or a delightful new discovery. So I always donate books I don't like to the Salvation Army or some such venue. Not this book. This book is going in the trash.
August 1, 2019
This is very much an adult book, as it very naughty indeed. Supposedly a collection of a series of underground Victorian magazines, it is basically porn with no pictures.
I think it was probably written by a man or men, though who knows? It describes in detail and graphic language sexual encounters of many kinds, and is probably the result of someone’s fantasies rather than anything based in fact – but perhaps I have just led a sheltered life.
There are a few serial stories, as well as poems and one off short stories, all concerning straight and gay sex.
The reason it is so interesting is simply that as far as I know it is the only example of its kind – to survive in the ‘mainstream’ in any case, and gives a good idea of Victorian desires.
It’s a few years since I read it but it certainly left an impression, owing to its uniqueness – unless you know different!
I think it was probably written by a man or men, though who knows? It describes in detail and graphic language sexual encounters of many kinds, and is probably the result of someone’s fantasies rather than anything based in fact – but perhaps I have just led a sheltered life.
There are a few serial stories, as well as poems and one off short stories, all concerning straight and gay sex.
The reason it is so interesting is simply that as far as I know it is the only example of its kind – to survive in the ‘mainstream’ in any case, and gives a good idea of Victorian desires.
It’s a few years since I read it but it certainly left an impression, owing to its uniqueness – unless you know different!
June 4, 2012
Very educational. Will give insight into the sexual naivety of the Victorian Age. Be prepared to giggle at the flowery language, and roll your eyes at the way women are degraded. Definitely more for the history major than for the erotica junkee.
March 20, 2014
I read this as a teenager, late at night, sneaking it out of my aunt's paperback collection. As I recall, it wasn't very good, but I still remember having read it all these years later.
June 23, 2020
Reading E R O T I C A after a long time but not too excited!
You ask why? ( I know you don't care lol) 😆😄
With monsoons, all I can think of is raunchiness. Joking... Dirty talks? Lol ... Kidding... ☺️
But some EROTICA? hell yeah!
@harperperennial Forbidden Classics is a good example of some 1800-1900 romantic rendezvous setups with historical flavorful characters.. the sex scenes (can't believe I am talking about sex scenes of a book!) Are not too emerging or too raunchy. They are good to read though. I couldn't fantasize much. Which I really wanted to. I mean, the amateurs will probably masturbate on this one but not me. 🤣💫
😛
The stories are stretched and I still can say with all confirmation that ❤️
@_millsandboons_ is still my first pick! I strongly recommend you start with their historical timeless romances and maybe the moderns of which some are too good!
⬇️
You ask why? ( I know you don't care lol) 😆😄
With monsoons, all I can think of is raunchiness. Joking... Dirty talks? Lol ... Kidding... ☺️
But some EROTICA? hell yeah!
@harperperennial Forbidden Classics is a good example of some 1800-1900 romantic rendezvous setups with historical flavorful characters.. the sex scenes (can't believe I am talking about sex scenes of a book!) Are not too emerging or too raunchy. They are good to read though. I couldn't fantasize much. Which I really wanted to. I mean, the amateurs will probably masturbate on this one but not me. 🤣💫
😛
The stories are stretched and I still can say with all confirmation that ❤️
@_millsandboons_ is still my first pick! I strongly recommend you start with their historical timeless romances and maybe the moderns of which some are too good!
⬇️
November 12, 2016
Interesting, as long as you keep in mind the period it was written in. This Dutch translation, De parel : verboden verhalen, contains four stories originally published in the Victorian magazine The Pearl.
For a more elaborate review, in Dutch, see Foreign fiction translated into Dutch/Flemish
For a more elaborate review, in Dutch, see Foreign fiction translated into Dutch/Flemish
January 3, 2020
It's unfortunate that the phrase "catering to every erotic taste", as the historical introduction to this book promises, essentially means that any one reading this book will find something deeply horrifying. One should not try to cater to every erotic taste at once, as some of the serialized novels contained here attempt to do. And I'll go out on a limb and say that some of those tastes (i.e., the raging obsession with deflowering children at younger and younger ages) should not be catered to at all.
Writings like these are of course works of fantasy. It's not surprising that they should depict extreme situations, or reflect implicitly (or, often, very very explicitly) the prejudices of their authors. The racism is strong in this one; the misogyny is stronger; and the complete lack of understanding of how a human body works is strongest of all. Any one curious to see what Victorians were erotically fascinated by, or looking perhaps for an erotic thrill of their own, should probably know that going in.
Writings like these are of course works of fantasy. It's not surprising that they should depict extreme situations, or reflect implicitly (or, often, very very explicitly) the prejudices of their authors. The racism is strong in this one; the misogyny is stronger; and the complete lack of understanding of how a human body works is strongest of all. Any one curious to see what Victorians were erotically fascinated by, or looking perhaps for an erotic thrill of their own, should probably know that going in.
March 3, 2020
Who said the victorians were prudes?
June 16, 2013
Is it a trend with erotica from this time period to be obsessed with birching? There's a lot of that in this. Also a lot of non-con situations, which seems another trend of this period. So. Warnings for the modern reader: birching/whipping, non-con/rape, underage, gore, incest, racism, kidnapping ... There are a lot of warnings is what I'm saying. It's not de Sade by any means, but the author(s) of this erotica was/were kind of out there.
The Pearl, in its Kindle Edition at least, is the compilation of all the issues of the magazine of the same title. Each issue contains chapters of separate stories, erotic poetry, and little one-shot anecdotes. The editors have kept everything as it was, so far as order goes--and that's a little irritating, as the stories are never in the same order from issue to issue. Not that it really matters, per se. I mean, who in their right mind is reading this crap for the narrative? (If you are, I'm sorry, because the writing is pretty terrible and repetitive.) However, it might be less annoying if the issue-order were ignored and the stories' chapters were assembled together.
There's tons of editing issues in the ebook. Some of the words have numbers instead of letters or two letters were mistaken for one and the resulting word makes little or no sense. You can usually guess what was intended. Aside from the issues of digitizing a scanned text, there are problems within the narrative in selecting and keeping to one narrator; it jumps all over the place, and sometimes the prose breaks down to become a script of dialogue.
Oh, what else can I say about it? It's interesting enough as a curiosity piece, but it took me forever to read the whole thing. The stories all have a similar style of narrative and choices of pet names for genitals, so, while the introductions give the impression that all of these tales have been written by different people, I suspect a few of them share an author. The poetry is pretty amusing, as bawdy poetry goes.
The Pearl, in its Kindle Edition at least, is the compilation of all the issues of the magazine of the same title. Each issue contains chapters of separate stories, erotic poetry, and little one-shot anecdotes. The editors have kept everything as it was, so far as order goes--and that's a little irritating, as the stories are never in the same order from issue to issue. Not that it really matters, per se. I mean, who in their right mind is reading this crap for the narrative? (If you are, I'm sorry, because the writing is pretty terrible and repetitive.) However, it might be less annoying if the issue-order were ignored and the stories' chapters were assembled together.
There's tons of editing issues in the ebook. Some of the words have numbers instead of letters or two letters were mistaken for one and the resulting word makes little or no sense. You can usually guess what was intended. Aside from the issues of digitizing a scanned text, there are problems within the narrative in selecting and keeping to one narrator; it jumps all over the place, and sometimes the prose breaks down to become a script of dialogue.
Oh, what else can I say about it? It's interesting enough as a curiosity piece, but it took me forever to read the whole thing. The stories all have a similar style of narrative and choices of pet names for genitals, so, while the introductions give the impression that all of these tales have been written by different people, I suspect a few of them share an author. The poetry is pretty amusing, as bawdy poetry goes.
June 17, 2009
Not a real tight read as it is a collection but very different to see the perverted frolics of aristocrats and country cousins. If the actions of the characters were tied into reality, Englands population would be much larger.
Getting some detailed background on this collection would be historically interesting.
Getting some detailed background on this collection would be historically interesting.
November 14, 2007
The "dirty" book that got passed around during 8th grade after we had graduated from "Forever."
April 21, 2008
victorian erotica
July 14, 2008
read at 14
October 31, 2017
Great book, with lots of variety.
April 30, 2009
Juvenile & perverse, in stilted, archaic language, but it's an excellent reminder that there's nothing new under the sun.
July 19, 2011
read this years ago and really enjoyed at the time lol
Read
December 30, 2013ddsdf e eewrrr
March 20, 2014
Bought this book at a porn book store in Times Square back in 1972. Everyone snickered at it when they took it off my bookshelf, but they all had a good look-through!
July 28, 2015
A classic. One of my favourites. Read when I was a teen and have re read several times since.
April 1, 2022
Classic adult reading
Adult situations
This has nearly all of the editions published by The Pearl from July 1879 through December 1880. The Hardtip Collection has more, and Grey Grove a free version available in PDF, epub, and mobi versions. The Christmas 1879 edition currently seems to be a lost edition.
For those not in The Pearl contains stories covering a wide variety of tastes -- hetero, lesbian, gay (rare), non-consent, BDSM, poetry, harems, trading sex for position or to keep it, limericks, and more, all centered on a favorite topic of humans -- sex.
This underground journal was quite popular in its day, the height of the Victorian Age, and despite being shut down for its lewd content, still remains in print and digital format to this day. I'm not a fan of birching (whipping) and there's a fair bit of it, but that's my personal choice. Most people like sex and enjoy reading about, and both the middle class and the wealthy were hungry to read new things, and this magazine filled the same niche as adult entertainment does today.
A lot of sexual aids were developed or expanded during this time. Dildos have been around for thousands of years, but they were ceramic, wood, or polished stone. Rubber versions that allowed flexibility, and the first Symbian machines designed to treat female hysteria were invented to save medical specialists from getting carpal tunnel. Yes, it was basically helping the ladies rub one out, but why shouldn't they get their share of pleasure when ignorant men were too quick or only had sex for reproductive purposes and masturbation was too sinful? Sadly, some doctors actually performed clitorectomies to curb masturbation or "hysteria," but fortunately the number of victims were few. To be fair, some boy singers were castrated to prevent their voices from deepening with their families benefiting from the income. Interesting times, full of innovation as well as repressive, cruel, and ignorant customs.
Whether it's the history, sociology, anthropology, and/or just want to read it out of curiosity, it's worth a read. For some modern readers, this collection confirms their fetish(es) aren't new and so they aren't broken, mutual consent being of utmost importance. If one story isn't to your liking, move on.
Enjoy!
Adult situations
This has nearly all of the editions published by The Pearl from July 1879 through December 1880. The Hardtip Collection has more, and Grey Grove a free version available in PDF, epub, and mobi versions. The Christmas 1879 edition currently seems to be a lost edition.
For those not in The Pearl contains stories covering a wide variety of tastes -- hetero, lesbian, gay (rare), non-consent, BDSM, poetry, harems, trading sex for position or to keep it, limericks, and more, all centered on a favorite topic of humans -- sex.
This underground journal was quite popular in its day, the height of the Victorian Age, and despite being shut down for its lewd content, still remains in print and digital format to this day. I'm not a fan of birching (whipping) and there's a fair bit of it, but that's my personal choice. Most people like sex and enjoy reading about, and both the middle class and the wealthy were hungry to read new things, and this magazine filled the same niche as adult entertainment does today.
A lot of sexual aids were developed or expanded during this time. Dildos have been around for thousands of years, but they were ceramic, wood, or polished stone. Rubber versions that allowed flexibility, and the first Symbian machines designed to treat female hysteria were invented to save medical specialists from getting carpal tunnel. Yes, it was basically helping the ladies rub one out, but why shouldn't they get their share of pleasure when ignorant men were too quick or only had sex for reproductive purposes and masturbation was too sinful? Sadly, some doctors actually performed clitorectomies to curb masturbation or "hysteria," but fortunately the number of victims were few. To be fair, some boy singers were castrated to prevent their voices from deepening with their families benefiting from the income. Interesting times, full of innovation as well as repressive, cruel, and ignorant customs.
Whether it's the history, sociology, anthropology, and/or just want to read it out of curiosity, it's worth a read. For some modern readers, this collection confirms their fetish(es) aren't new and so they aren't broken, mutual consent being of utmost importance. If one story isn't to your liking, move on.
Enjoy!
January 5, 2020
I feel the need to review this. Because it was so bizarre. :-O
This book was given to me in a group of books to sell in my bookstore. I always go thru them to see what i might like to read - so, i thought this might be "interesting." It supposedly comes from writings from a "Victorian magazine." ?? who knows ??
I'm no prude - but this stuff is pretty nasty, yet written in a way that tries NOT to say the "nasty words." Crazy. It did make me laugh, but also cringe.
In theses stories you can sample rape, underage sex, incest, drugged "victims," kidnapping, torture, bondage, beatings and whippings, golden showers, obsession with "de-flowering" girls, all types of bi-sex, toys - and i'm leaving out the REALLY bad stuff, and the run-of-the-mill sex!!
Some of the poems were cute, and i loved many of the limericks - which they called "Nursery Rhymes" i believe. The rest of it was just not my type of book. Too many women saying "no, no - what are you doing!?" - and then giving in. I know it's only a novel, but i can't even force myself to like it when the entire book is full of the same thing. To each their own.
This book was given to me in a group of books to sell in my bookstore. I always go thru them to see what i might like to read - so, i thought this might be "interesting." It supposedly comes from writings from a "Victorian magazine." ?? who knows ??
I'm no prude - but this stuff is pretty nasty, yet written in a way that tries NOT to say the "nasty words." Crazy. It did make me laugh, but also cringe.
In theses stories you can sample rape, underage sex, incest, drugged "victims," kidnapping, torture, bondage, beatings and whippings, golden showers, obsession with "de-flowering" girls, all types of bi-sex, toys - and i'm leaving out the REALLY bad stuff, and the run-of-the-mill sex!!
Some of the poems were cute, and i loved many of the limericks - which they called "Nursery Rhymes" i believe. The rest of it was just not my type of book. Too many women saying "no, no - what are you doing!?" - and then giving in. I know it's only a novel, but i can't even force myself to like it when the entire book is full of the same thing. To each their own.
May 11, 2025
1.5 stars
More than anything erotic it's just a peek into the mid-Victorian sexual psyche. A set of situations and scenes are repeated in most of these stories, which I am in agreement with several other reviewers here are almost certainly the writing of just one person. Reading it to get you off will be very disappointing unless you've got a massive fetish for virginity or cropping. Reading it as a historical document is in my opinion the best if not only way to approach it and actually glean a good bit about what was going on sociosexually at the time. All these fetishes are really birthed from and anchored in the context of Victorian values, be it revolving around them or in antithesis of them. Not a demanding read despite its length, pretty mindless. The little dirty poems at the ends of the issues are fun.
More than anything erotic it's just a peek into the mid-Victorian sexual psyche. A set of situations and scenes are repeated in most of these stories, which I am in agreement with several other reviewers here are almost certainly the writing of just one person. Reading it to get you off will be very disappointing unless you've got a massive fetish for virginity or cropping. Reading it as a historical document is in my opinion the best if not only way to approach it and actually glean a good bit about what was going on sociosexually at the time. All these fetishes are really birthed from and anchored in the context of Victorian values, be it revolving around them or in antithesis of them. Not a demanding read despite its length, pretty mindless. The little dirty poems at the ends of the issues are fun.
Read
November 1, 2022so I had to read this for one of my classes this year and here I am thinking okay I read erotica here and there, this shouldn’t be that bad it might be fun to see what type of writings there were during this time. And I only had to read three collections of the stories…when I say that I may not be able to stomach reading erotica for a very very long time, I mean it - this just became way too much and if I didn’t have to finish it for class, I would have stopped mUCH sooner
December 25, 2017
One of the first books I re-read and studied closely. I was quite young, but I was captivated by it.....
January 1, 2018
Very enjoyable. It reads like a naughty newspaper of old!
January 9, 2021
Delicious
December 30, 2023
I am uncomfortable with the r*pe scenes. Yes, there are several. It's a nasty book and not in a good way.
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April 15, 20221879 to 1881
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews