J.E.M.

'Wide Open' is a memoir supposedly written by an American with a good knowledge of the shady side of Paris around the turn of the Twentieth Century. He portrays a world replete with skilled whores who nightly haunt public parks, and a number of cafes in which passing liaisons can be formed and pursued to their climactic ends. Much of the activity is carried on so publicly that voyeurism plays a large part, usually providing additional payments to the professional ladies who offer more tangible services. Female companions of the male clientèle are frequently accommodated, often playing active parts. The book provides a detailed and vivid picture of the specialities of the profession, and the stories told seem credible, even though that cannot be taken for granted in the erotic genre. It is reasonably erotic, but with a documentary air which rather tends towards a catalogue-like feel.… (plus d'informations)