SEXUAL LIBERATION OR SEXUAL LICENSE?

An unfortunately dull and banal history of American sexuality from the Victorian era to the dawn of the 21st century.

Although this tome might provide fresh insight for the reader who mistakenly views Hugh Hefner, Madonna, and Boy George as neo-Victorians, the pickings are slim indeed for anyone sufficiently knowledgeable of popular culture to realize that Mae West is no model of sexual propriety. Sadly, the bulk of evidence that White marshals for his argument about the development of sexual mores in 20th-century America is of this colorless variety. Pity the poor reader who needs White's assistance to ascertain that Jerry Lee Lewis's "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" is inconsistent with Victorian attitudes toward sexuality. And for Lewis's song in the above sentence, one could substitute any of the utterly obvious examples that White trots out like trick ponies and then returns to the stables of anti-Victorian licentiousness. Even when White delves into primary sources (such as his quotations from 19th-century letters), he fails to build a very strong case for his conclusions. For example, he boldly declares at one point that "Victorian relationships between men could be close." Has there been a time in history when "close" relationships between men did not exist? White ventures close to interesting material at such moments, but then reverts to a generalized dichotomy between Victorian and non-Victorian. Also frustrating is his refusal to document sources; he crams a bunch of them into a concluding chapter rather than providing the reader with such information along the way. The result is a study that is too anecdotal to offer real insight to the reader.

A stifling analysis.