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Sex and Punishment

Four Thousand Years of Judging Desire
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( 1,451 ratings, 197 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Sex and Punishment by Eric Berkowitz explores the complex and often surprising history of how societies have regulated sexual behaviour through legal means. The book traverses various eras and cultures, revealing the moral, social, and religious influences that shaped laws governing sexuality. It's an insightful journey through historical norms and their consequences, portraying how they have influenced modern-day perspectives on sex and punishment.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3299
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the interplay between sexual mores and legal history. It offers a captivating exploration of how societies have punished sexual behaviour throughout history, providing insight into the cultural and social factors that have shaped legal systems.

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Eric Berkowitz evokes the entire sweep of Western sex law, from the savage impalement of an Ancient Mesopotamian adulteress to the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde in 1895 for 'gross indecency'.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sex and Punishment tells the story of the struggle throughout millennia to regulate the most powerful engine of human behaviour: sex.

From the savage impalement of an Ancient Mesopotamian adulteress to the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde for 'gross indecency' in 1895, Eric Berkowitz evokes the entire sweep of Western sex law. The cast of Sex and Punishment is as varied as the forms taken by human desire itself: royal mistresses, gay charioteers, medieval transvestites, lonely goat-lovers, prostitutes of all stripes, and London rent boys.

Each of them had forbidden sex, and each was judgedβ€”and justice, as Berkowitz shows, rarely had anything to do with it.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Sex and Punishment by Eric Berkowitz offers an engaging exploration of the history of sexual legalities across different cultures and eras. The book has been praised for its thorough research and ability to make complex legal histories accessible and intriguing. Some reviews highlight its entertaining narrative style, though others note that the extensive detail can occasionally be overwhelming. Overall, readers appreciate the book's comprehensive approach and unique insights into historical societal behaviours.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781908906106

Publisher: Saqi Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 April 2013

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: The Westbourne Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 330g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Eric Berkowitz is a writer, lawyer and journalist. Before devoting his practice to public interest and asylum law, he practiced intellectual property and civil litigation in Los Angeles for more than twenty years. Berkowitz has published widely throughout his career, including investigative pieces in theΒ New York TimesΒ andΒ Los Angeles Times, and articles in theΒ Washington PostΒ andΒ The Economist, among others. He lives in San Francisco, California.

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