A provocative and compelling illustrated cultural history of the world’s oldest profession that recovers the stories of those who sold sex for a living

Talked over, talked down or talked for, the history of sex work is one of control, stigma and stereotype in which the lived experience of people selling sex is largely obscured. In this provocative, compelling and witty cultural history, Kate Lister (creator of ‘Whores of Yore’) recovers the stories of those who sold sex for a living. From medieval London back streets to Storyville brothels, and from Chinese flower boats to royal bed chambers, this authoritative and global history of sex work is enhanced by evocative paintings, archival photographs and intriguing curios.

Contents List

Introduction, Tales from Gropecunt Lane
Chapter 1: In Service of the Gods, Sex in the Ancient World
Chapter 2: Toads and She-Wolves, Selling Sex in the Classical World
Chapter 3: The Geese that Laid the Golden Egg, Sex Work in Medieval London
Chapter 4: The Honest Courtesans, Selling Sex in Renaissance Europe
Chapter 5: The Pleasures of the Moon, The Floating World of Edo Japan
Chapter 6: Molly Houses and Mary-Anns, Men Selling Sex in Regency Britain
Chapter 7: Master of the Plum Blossoms, Sex in the Qing Dynasty
Chapter 8: The Great Social Evil, Prostitution in the 19th Century
Chapter 9: Soiled Doves and Jailbirds, Sex for Sale in the Land of the Free
Chapter 10: Maisons de Tolérance, Sex and the Belle Époque
Chapter 11: The Prophylactic Dictatorships, Sex in Wartime
Conclusion, The Fight Back

Kate Lister is the creator of the award-winning online research project ‘Whores of Yore’, which seeks to build public engagement and disseminate research on the history of sex and sexuality through social media. The Twitter feed has 464,000 followers and the website receives an average of 60,000 independent visits a month. She also lectures at Leeds Trinity University, is widely published on the sex trade and collaborates with several sex-worker charities and campaign groups.