Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History

New Approaches to European History #45

by Dagmar Herzog

This original book brings a fascinating and accessible new account of the tumultuous history of sexuality in Europe from the waning of Victorianism to the collapse of Communism and the rise of European Islam. Although the twentieth century is often called “the century of sex” and seen as an era of increasing liberalization, Dagmar Herzog instead emphasizes the complexities and contradictions in sexual desires and behaviours, the ambivalences surrounding sexual freedom, and the difficulties encountered in securing sexual rights. Incorporating the most recent scholarship on a broad range of conceptual problems and national contexts, the book investigates the shifting fortunes of marriage and prostitution, contraception and abortion, queer and straight existence. It analyzes sexual violence in war and peace, the promotion of sexual satisfaction in fascist and democratic societies, the role of eugenics and disability, the politicization and commercialization of sex, and processes of secularization and religious renewal.

Genres: History, Sexuality, Nonfiction, European History, Queer, Academic

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2011

About the author

Dagmar Herzog (born 1961) is Distinguished Professor of History and the Daniel Rose Faculty Scholar at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She has published extensively on the histories of sexuality and gender, psychoanalysis, theology and religion, Jewish-Christian relations and Holocaust memory, and she has edited anthologies on sexuality in the Third Reich, sexuality in twentieth-century Austria, and the Holocaust.

Reviews

[Veronika Valkovicova · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a comprehensive primer which could serve undergrad students of social sciences. But that would be just about it. I would certainly not recommend it to someone who is looking for a more complex academic reading. Only if you are looking for something "light for Christmas". At times it seems that the author wants to write about everything, yet nothing thoroughly. Having said this, I still sincerely appreciate the final chapter "Partnerships and practices 1980 - 2010", which was also extensively devoted to the change and resistance of national policies in Central and Eastern Europe with regards to the influence of EU policies and their accession processes. Within this chapter, the author also looks into the recent cases of clergy abuse, though I would appreciate a more systematic insight into the Vatican policy addressing cases of sexual violence (still looking for a book on this...). What I would also like to appreciate is the focus on the development of Italian, German and Spanish policies (which similar primers tend to be pushed aside compared to UK or French policies). All in all, from the historical perspective of the development of the European policies, it is clear that there is a number of issues/cases that this book does not address. But then again, who would want to read a 800-page book for Christmas? I would give this book 3.5 starts if it was possible.

[Libellus · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5/5

[ThedarksideofEma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ottimo per avere una base sulla materia, però un po' veloce su molti passaggi

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good textbook intro into the subject for undergrads.