18th Century Enthusiasts discussion

Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't chosen the exact wording of my research question yet, but I'm basically looking for any recommendations that anyone can give regarding this topic?

I've previously read Roxana which is where I branched out from and so far I have been recommended Fatomina, Evelina and Fanny Hill as novels and a few of Rochester's poems. However I would like to pick out of a variety of texts in case any of the above aren't right for what I'm looking for.

Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks

Depends on your slant with this, but Boswell's London Journal includes some very frank descriptions of Boswell out among the brothels and such, it's not fiction but it does describe the reality.

Also, you may want to pick up a copy of 'Harris's Book of Covent Garden Ladies', which is a sort of what-prostitute guide, there is also a book about it called 'Covent Garden Ladies' by Hallie Rubenhold which is very interesting.

Also, at the end of Perigrinne Pickle by Tobias Smollett there is the 'Memoirs of a Lady of Quality' a sort of lover's confession by Lady Vane.

Oh thanks I'll see if I can find the first one there, because I'll need secondary sources. I've actually read some of the things from Harri's Book of Convent Garden Ladies on ECCO.
Thanks for the suggestions!

Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't chosen the exact wording of my research quest..."

Hi only just saw this as I've been away, is it too late to reply? I have a couple of suggestions...

Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't chosen the exact wording of my ..."

No, I'm not due to begin the dissertation until September! Would love any more suggestions

Oh yes, that Book of Covent Garden Ladies is very interesting, one of my friends did a paper on that for our 18th Century Seminar at Auburn.

Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't chosen the exa..."

Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't chosen the exa..."

Hi

I would suggest Clarissa by Samuel Richardson (predatory male sex and coercion/violence, sex and death) and Pamela, both have a lot to say about attitudes to male and female sexuality/chastity/double standard. Terry Eagleton's The Rape of Clarissa might be of interest. Also books which show women pursuing men might be a good contrast - see Mary Hays Memoirs of Emma Courtney which was parodied by Elizabeth Hamilton in The Memoirs of the Modern Philosophers. Also books where women dress as men to pursue a male - eg Elinor in Frances Burney's The Wanderer. Also Mary Wollstonecraft Mary and also the Wrongs of Women v interesting esp with some class angles too. Rousseau too, his Emile etc which Thomas Day tried to put into practice by raising an orphan to be his wife...re memoirs Boswell of course, but William Hickey's are very interesting on male attitudes to keeping women and prostitution, and on being kept The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson are interesting. Fantomima very interesting and Eliza Haywood generally incl Love in Excess. Not sure if any of this is any use! Good luck.

Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't ..."

Wow thank you this is so helpful. I won't however be studying Clarissa as I feel that the size of the novel itself would be sufficient enough to cover a dissertation on its own. I have also previously studied Pamela, so I'm trying to expand from what I've already read. But I'll certainly be looking at the other suggestions! Thank you!

Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century literature, I haven't ..."

Love in excess is a good 'un. Second best selling novel of the early C18th after Robinson Crusoe and now left out in the cold.

Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth Century liter..."

Hi yes I did wonder about Clarissa! I also thought it might be worth looking at Hogarth's Harlot's Progress and Rake's Progress - not lit as such but they are narratives and are worth a look if nothing else. Oh, and Tom Jones is interesting on illegitimacy, if you haven't already read that.

Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Lucienne wrote: "Jayde wrote: "Hi,

I'm about to start my dissertation at university, and I wanted to focus around the topic of sexuality in Eighteenth..."

Yes I've looked at some of Hogarth's before, I'll need secondary material anyway so I think this will be very useful. I haven't read Tom Jones, I'm not sure which direction I'm taking yet, my lecturer suggested sexual practice in Eighteenth century literature, so I'm really just looking at everything and anything until I find what I'd like to focus on. Thank you though! I have a lot of reading to do now

Interesting thing about Tom Jones is that the women always seduce him but let him think he's doing the seducing.