The title pretty much gives away what the book is about but it is still in need of a review. Ferris' book gives the reader a history of sex from the late 1890s to 1993, it's published year. It gives info on how sex was frowned upon by almost anyone except soldiers fighting overseas in WWI. How the feminists would bash any man who mentioned that he'd recently had sex, the fact that self-pleasure would result in a prison sentence and that anyone found owning pornographic "propaganda" would be arrested and the propaganda being burnt.
Surprisingly, even the London Rubber Company were embarrassed to produce condoms which were highly frowned upon until the late '80s.
Many of the rules of sex 60 years ago will make anyone aged 20 wonder what the hell they were thinking back then when even a badly-drawn cartoon of a half-naked woman would be pulled off the shelves instantly.
For a book that could be classed as British history (a subject I don't take a huge interest in) it is one which anyone would find interesting (even those 22 year olds who can't or refuse to read). When I started reading the book I didn't know what to expect - possibly the fact that it might turn out to just be another of those generic textbook-types. However, over the years Ferris has undertaken a lot of research and interviews to produce a book that will entertain, shock and humour.
Like they say, sex sells and this book shows proff that this statement is very much true.
Overall rating: 3.75/5
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