1st Edition

Sex In The Western World

By Jean-Louis Flandrin, S. Collins Copyright 1991

    First Published in 1991. In this book the author looks at the history of sexuality, discussing topics of love from the 15th century onwards, sexual morality and marriage, ancient and modern adages conernong procreation as a part of society and the sex lives of single people. 

    Why study the history of sexuality? Part 1 Love: civilization and feelings; love and love affairs in the 16th century; the "Creantailles" rite in Troyes between the 15th and 17th centuries; love and marriage in the 18th century. Part 2 Sexual morality and marital relations: the Christian doctrine of marriage; contraception, marriage and sexual relations in the Christian West; man and wife in the marriage bed. Part 3 The child and procreation: childhood and society; attitudes towards young children and sexual behaviour; ancient and modern adages concerning the child within the family; the young woman in ancient French proverbs. Part 4 The sex lives of single people: late marriages and sex lives; repression and change in the sex lives of young people; family and illicit love in England.

    Biography

    Jean-Louis Flandrin was Professor Emeritus at the University of Paris-VIII and Head of Research at the Ecole des hautes etudes en sciences sociale.