George Ryley Scott

Eyewatering procession of modes and means of torture throughout world history, written by an author from the 1930s with a surprisingly modern and radical perspective; he deplores animal torture as much as human, and justifiably criticises bullfights, halal/kosher slaughter and circuses as belonging to the past in the same way the stocks, the rack and the scavenger's daughter do. Interspersed with some incredibly evocative primary source material (the depiction of the auto-da-fe of a French priest, of the Piedmont atrocities and of the Holy Inquisition's sex dungeon were grotesquely fascinating), it serves as a reminder that brutal, violent and highly creative torture is, in fact, part of what might be considered normal and expected human behaviour, and that we are fortunate in the West, at least, to live in times when such acts are not condoned by the authorities. A canonical text for those interested in the dark truths of the human psyche; and written in the considered, precise and largely uncensored English of 1930s Great Britain, perhaps the most pleasing era for written English. Plentiful illustrations of people going about their torturous deeds.… (mere)

Originally written in 1936 GR Scott's A History of Prostitution certainly is not your average history book.

I read the September 1940 T. Werner Laurie Ltd second impression edition which came complete with a restricted sale warning which was of interest in itself: "The sale of this book is restricted to members of the Medical and Legal Professions, Scientists, Anthropologists, Psychologists, Sociologists, Criminologists, and Social Workers." So it's clear this wasn't your average night time reading back in the day either.

As the title gives away, this book gives an overview of the history of prostitution as well as prostitution as it currently* stands in England, France, America & Queensland, Australia (*Currently being 1936-1940).

As with most historical reference books there are some errors and oversights based on established ideas of the time which have been corrected in the last 78 years since it was written. One of the largest of such being the recognition that homosexuality is not a choice, or a "perversion".

Nonetheless, despite a few errors founded on the ideas of the time this book still provides a reasonable history outline which is still relevant to today's reader. It is in my eyes the most accessible and earliest examples of scientific / critical enquiry into prostitution which has not been tainted by a moralist / reformist / puritanical outlook.… (mere)

Originally published in 1968, this book is couched in the very proper language of the period. It is most certainly dated but does provide what appears to be a reasonably thoroughly researched perspective on female prostitution.

It is limited in its scope as it tends to focus on the state of play in the UK in far more detail than any other area of the world... its references to the US, Europe and Asia are limited in scope. Australia and South America barely rate a mention at all!

It would appear that the writer's personal view of the nature of women involved in prostitution heavily coloured his presentation of the information....I was most amused by his theory that prostitution would become extinct with the loosening of the moral standards of young women these days (early 60's) ie: men would no longer pay for what they could expect to get for nothing!

His assertion that married women were in fact responsible for the existence of prostitution in the first place was gob smacking. It would appear that married women need to learn how to be good at sex, enjoy it and be prepared to have it all the time whether they want to or not. Then it will only be those men who are deviants and looking for something perverse (like BDSM) who will seek the services of a professional. I didn't realise I was reading something that was meant to be funny.

There is room for something on my shelves that brings the history into the present.… (mere)