The Sins of the Cities of the Plain; or, The Recollections of a Mary-Ann / with Short Essays on Sodomy and Tribadism

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

53964

Title

The Sins of the Cities of the Plain; or, The Recollections of a Mary-Ann / with Short Essays on Sodomy and Tribadism

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1881 privately printed volume presents a collection of explicit erotic narratives and essays exploring themes of sodomy and tribadism. Written in a Victorian style, the text follows the adventures of Jack Saul, a self-described 'Mary-Ann,' detailing his sexual exploits with men and women, his reflections on Roman history regarding vice, and observations on contemporary London society. The work combines graphic first-person accounts with historical commentary, maintaining a tone that oscillates between clinical observation and lurid description.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Sins of the Cities of the Plain; or, The Recollections of a Mary-Ann*, Jack Saul presents a scandalous narrative blending explicit memoir with historical essays on sexual deviance. The work opens with an introduction by a narrator who meets Saul, an effeminate young man known as a 'Mary-Ann,' in London's Leicester Square. Saul agrees to document his life story in exchange for payment, shifting the narrative to his own recollections of youth and early experiences with pederasty. The text details various encounters, including scenes where characters like Boulton and Park dress as ladies to deceive female acquaintances, such as a milliner named Miss Bruce, into believing they are hermaphrodites. These deceptions lead to group orgies and further adventures involving companions like Selina. The second volume continues these recollections, depicting schoolboys engaging in sexual activities observed by a schoolmaster who consults a doctor. The narrative then transitions into a series of short essays contrasting ancient and modern attitudes toward vice. The first essay examines the history of sodomy, noting its prevalence and fashionability in Roman society among emperors like Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero, while contrasting this with modern European norms. It also cites medical observations regarding the physical effects of passive sodomy, such as the enlargement of the anus. The final section focuses on tribadism, described as a vice existing among women, particularly in France and among prostitutes or educated women tired of male partners. The text references historical instances from the court of Charles II and the writings of Juvenal and Martial. Throughout the work, the author employs explicit language and detailed descriptions of sexual acts, including oral sex, anal intercourse, and flagellation, often using period-specific slang. The book concludes by noting the prevalence of these vices across various social strata and historical contexts, framing them as enduring human failings.

LLM editorial rating

3.5/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53964.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg53964.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-13 19:38 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Essays