What would you like to read?Search books, authors, genres, shelves, users...
Search books, authors, genres, shelves, users...Search books, authors, genres, shelves, users...

1709-1789
John Cleland (24 September 1709 – 23 January 1789) was an English novelist best known for his fictional Fanny Hill: or, the Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, whose eroticism led to his arrest. James Bos...
John Cleland
A novel written in the mid-18th century. The book narrates the life of Frances Hill, known as Fanny, a young woman who recounts her experiences as she navigates the world of love, desire, and sexuality after having lost her parents. As she ventures from her modest origins in Lancashire to the bustling streets of London, Fanny's journey leads her down a path filled with both pleasure and peril. The opening of the novel sets the stage for Fanny's tale, introducing her as an orphan who, after the death of her parents, embarks on a journey to London in search of work and a new life. The narrative is delivered in the form of letters, reflecting her thoughts and feelings with an unvarnished honesty. Fanny recounts her initial naivety, her encounters with various figures, including Esther Davis who helps her settle in London, and her experiences in a world where her innocence is both precious and endangered. As she begins to experience the city's allure, the groundwork for her eventual journeys through love and loss is laid, hinting that her path will be one marked by exploration of sensuality amidst the challenges of her chosen life.