James Paunce

This book tells us it originated as an unpublished manuscript from the Victorian era, and it is here presented as such, edited by James Paunce. Paunce has attempted a particularly useful criticism of the book, along the lines used by standard literary criticism, and he points out how rarely this process has been undertaken, exploring the reasons for this. The book presents what seems to be a series of extracts from the original manuscript, interspersed with comments that clarify the importance of what is being described both for its original audience and also for our understanding of both Victorian sexuality and of the erotic novel. The book concerns the (rapid) sexual emergence of the young (virginal) Georgina in the hands of her young friend Harry and of her uncle and aunt and their friends. Flagellation plays a major part in the erotic stimulation enjoyed by her relatives, and this is quickly communicated to Georgina, in whom it finds a natural and appreciative subject. Some of the relevant action is extreme to the point of apparent sadism, but in general the subject is treated sensitively. As Paunce shows, however, towards the end of the work it seems that its author lost interest in it, allowing the ending to deteriorate into a ‘going through the motions’. Paunce says some useful things about how erotic literature sits within ‘standard’ literature, and about how its frequent failings in the areas of post-crisis re-invigoration relates to the progress of the male sexual drive through orgasm and beyond.… (plus d'informations)