A history of female pleasure

FLICK

Meet the women throughout history who, quite literally, came before us. 
 
From the host of award-winning History Hit podcast Betwixt the Sheets.. 
 
There is a common misconception that before modern day feminism, women throughout history simply lay back and thought of England or their respective place of origin; that the modern ‘sex positive’ movement is a radical break from the past. But women demanding better sex did not arrive with free love or the Rampant Rabbit. It has been a very long fight indeed. 
 
From Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill, Kate Lister takes us through history to show us how women’s sexual pleasure was controlled, understood and thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed. 
 
FLICK is a rousing history of women enjoying sex: sex with themselves, sex with each other, and occasionally sex with men as well.

Dr Kate Lister is an historian, columnist, television presenter and host of the award-winning History Hit podcast Betwixt the Sheets. She has published widely in the field of sex history, and lives in the north of England.

We like to think of the modern ‘sex positive’ movement as being a radical break from the past; that we are finally sorting out the repression and denial of women’s sexual pleasure that has restricted us throughout history. But women demanding better sex did not arrive with modern day feminism or the Rampant Rabbit. It has been a very long fight indeed. 
 
It is true that women’s sexual pleasure has been heavily repressed, stigmatised, and even denied at various points throughout history, but it has also been celebrated, venerated, and thoroughly, THOROUGHLY, enjoyed. Women have been fighting for their right to enjoy sex all along and theirs is a story that needs to be told. 
 
From the Aztec sex goddesses to ivory marital aids, Flick takes us through history to meet the matriarchal minxes who (quite literally) came before us.

Kate Lister

The act of sex has not changed since people first worked out what went where, but the ways in which society dictates how sex is culturally understood and performed have varied significantly through the ages. Humans are the only creatures that stigmatise particular sexual practices, and sex remains a deeply divisive issue around the world. Attitudes will change and grow - hopefully for the better - but sex will never be free of stigma or shame unless we acknowledge where it has come from.Based on the popular research project Whores of Yore, and written with her distinctive humour and wit, A Curious History of Sex draws upon Dr Kate Lister's extensive knowledge of sex history. From medieval impotence tests to twentieth-century testicle thefts, from the erotic frescoes of Pompeii, to modern-day sex doll brothels, Kate unashamedly roots around in the pants of history, debunking myths, challenging stereotypes and generally getting her hands dirty.This fascinating book is peppered with surprising and informative historical slang, and illustrated with eye-opening, toe-curling and meticulously sourced images from the past.You will laugh, you will wince and you will wonder just how much has actually changed.

Kate Lister

Books by Kate Lister

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter