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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
This book details the sexual escapades of the fictitious character of Jack Saul in the victorian era. It is a tawdry read. I enjoyed the beginning of it but after awhile it got repetitive in its depiction of a hustler. I think the author is courageous and brave for writing during a dangerous time for gays. For this it gets a 3.8/5.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The Sins of the Cities on the Plain (a reference to Sodom and Gomorrah) is purported to be a "memoir" of a male prostitute, highlighting stories from his life including two scandalous events from London headlines. While there was a real-life Jack Saul, scholars dispute certain events presented as facts when it is more likely heresay and others likely to have been embellished for story-telling. As literature, each vignette is pretty much identical to the last except for minor changes in participants and setting. This was repetitive and tiresome. At the end of the day, this book is best viewed as a historical curiosity, the first example of gay erotica.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
It is beautifully written, and provides the reader with a glance at the hidden sex lives of the 19th century.
A bit pornographic but overall very informational. Also I guess some of the anecdotes were exaggerated for effect but it was enlightening.
Basically Lady Fuckingham but predominantly gay - although it has its fair share of c..ts. I cannot imagine what this caused to its readers if it had ever got outside the intended circle (it was privately printed). Reading this in 1881 must have be more shocking than watching porn today and it’s a wonder the printer didn’t end up in flames.
Proper Victorians my arse (pun NOT intended).
Proper Victorians my arse (pun NOT intended).
Is it creepy to be incredibly disappointed that they aged up at least one of the characters from 13 to 17 in this edition?
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
informative
slow-paced
having recently seen a play purportedly based on this I was expecting much more of a narrative (there isn't any, except in the introductory chapters) and certainly nothing so very graphic. this read a badly written unedited draft collection of vignette. interesting I suppose as a rare example of such writing from its time and little else.