THE OLDEST PROFESSION: A History of Prostitution

by Lujo Basserman ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 1968

Extrapolating from the style and the bibliography (preponderantly German including Das Call Girl) pseudonymous Lujo Bassermann is German and this heavily researched reconstruction (guess you can't say it's putative) of the prostitute consists of a great deal of material from ancient time to the present. Except for its overall theme, it's presented with little continuity--just a lot of material basted together under subheads. From Athens, when Solon is said to have established the first brothel, through Rome, to the Middle Ages when Christianity added the stigma of sin. By the 15th century houris have become courtesans, and by the 18th the records are much fuller while the activities are more complex. All kinds of actual people participate--from Thais and Aspasia to Fanny Hill and Kiki of Montparnasse. However Mr. Bassermann has succeeded to a truly astonishing degree in taking the joie de vie out of the fille de joie.

Pub Date: March 27, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Stein & Day

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION