The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

30254

Title

The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Victorian erotic novel exploring themes of lust, power dynamics, and taboo relationships. The narrative follows a young man initiated into a world of secret orgies involving his guardians, relatives, and friends. With explicit language and graphic depictions of sexual acts, the story challenges societal norms while celebrating carnal ecstasy and the blurring of boundaries between innocence and experience.

Summary up to 500 words

The Romance of Lust, an anonymous Victorian erotic novel, presents a series of interconnected vignettes detailing the sexual initiation of an innocent youth, Harry Dale, by his libertine uncle and aunt. Set against the backdrop of strict societal propriety, the narrative explores themes of pederasty, incest, adultery, and group orgies, which the characters rationalize as natural expressions of desire superior to social constraints. The story begins at a rectory, where the uncle and aunt openly discuss and justify their sexual practices with Harry, his mother, his sisters, and his fiancée, Ellen. The text employs explicit anatomical terms and graphic descriptions of various sexual acts, including anal intercourse, oral sex, and fingering, often involving multiple partners simultaneously. The narrative tone is matter-of-fact, treating these orgies as mundane events within a life of unbridled pleasure. The story chronicles Harry's evolution from childhood innocence to adulthood, documenting his experiences in London and Paris. A significant portion of the plot involves the pregnancies resulting from these encounters, leading the protagonists to travel to Paris to give birth in secret. The narrative concludes with Harry leaving for university, promising further adventures in subsequent volumes. The novel's significance lies in its frank depiction of taboo subjects, challenging Victorian moral codes by presenting sexual liberation as a source of ecstasy and wisdom. Through the eyes of the protagonist, the story exposes the hypocrisy of societal norms while celebrating the 'glorious' physical and emotional rewards of a life dedicated to sexual exploration. The text serves as a stark contrast to the era's public morality, offering a raw and unfiltered look at human desire and the characters' refusal to be bound by conventional ethics.

LLM editorial rating

2.5/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Erotic Fiction