My Secret Life: An Erotic Diary of Victorian London

By Anonymous and Walter

Book Overview

From his precocious childhood to the end of what he calls his "amatory career," an adventurous Victorian known only as "Walter" records a breathtaking carnal epic through hundreds of sexual encounters with one or more nursemaids, prostitutes, cousins, actresses, workingmen, and other men's wives. In ruling everything sexual within the realm of possibility, Walter reveals "varied delights...whims and fancies normal and abnormal," sexual violence, fetishes--and sometimes, surprisingly, love. From his many escapades, he learns an invaluable lesson: "One can never know too much concerning human nature." Portraying an era of notorious repression, in which the appearance of propriety had to be strictly maintained, My Secret Life provides a rare look at the hidden side of Victorian life: the upstairs and downstairs encounters where nothing is "proper"--or forbidden. First published in London around 1900, this landmark work freshly illuminates the complex sexual dynamics of a society strictly divided between rich and poor, male and female, sexual and chaste. In James Kincaid's abridgment, Walter and his world come to vivid life in new and often surprising ways. Edited and with an Introduction by James Kincaid and with an Afterword by Paul Sawyer

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0072Q1YBE
• ISBN13: 9780451530721
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 624 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Not Just Sexy

I'm not sure where to start. I suppose I would like to respond to another review, in which the author stated that this book begins with tales of sexual abuse. Perhaps my understanding of sexual abuse is limited, but when I read the opening chapters, I felt as if this "Walter" was simply purging his early memories of "all things sexual" as he states. My Secret Life is presented as a memoir, though the editor James Kinkaid lets readers know that this may not be true. Nevertheless, this Victorian volume is amazing. Kinkaid supposes that this book has more "encounters" than any other in history- I do not doubt it. There is some questionable behavior, but it must all be put into context and understood from a distance. All in all, I have found "Walter" charming and endearing. He struggles with conflict between his inner desires and societal pressure. This book is full of sex: sex acts, sex talk, and detailed descriptions of body parts. However, I find it also fascinatingly honest.

My Secret Life

This book fell into my hands in 1969 (original edition)and I was 17 at the time. I read it from cover to cover and like most kids, passed it to a friend, who passed it to another, and so on. At that time I thought I was just getting a lesson in sex education, but now that I am turning 50 I find that over the years I have thought of this book many times and now wish to have a copy included in my personal library.The book is very well written and yes, you need to read it on a cold day because it is highly erotic. Do not read this book if explicit sex bothers you because this man has experienced it all and tells every detail. This is not pornography, it is erotic literature at its finest!

Victorian naughtiness at it's best.

This book is suppose to be autobiographical, and if true shows an interesting side to Victorian sexual mores. While reading this book remember that the Victorians covered chair legs for modesty reasons, and therefore the writings are quite explicit for that time period. I enjoy My Secret Life every time I go back to it.

Memorable naughtiness

Some first rate sex scenes in this, which is all the scenes that are in the whole thing. My girl friend Rosey Palm and I spent many hours reading this book when I was 15. Highly recommended to those who like a bit of overtly bawdy literature in their lives. (You might even learn a few things from this book, as I did). And it's all true!

A classic picture of the Victorian era

Walter, thought to be a nobleman or at least a wealthy businessman has an insatiable appetite for women. He has his way with any and all - he pays for his pleasure and he jusy takes it as he pleases! An excellent picture of Victoria's London and his varied names for the male and female sexual anatomy will no doubt cause some raised eyebrows - but they are true to life. Excellent.