1. David Lawrence, “Lady Chatterley's Lover”
The most famous and scandalous novel by English writer David Lawrence was first published in Italy in 1928 — two years before the author's death.
In his homeland, Britain, the book was banned for over 30 years due to its explicit sexual content. But the British quickly dispelled the myth of their own respectability. The first edition of the novel in 1960 sold a record three million copies.
The plot revolves around emotional Lady Chatterley, her paralyzed husband — an aristocrat — and her lover — a simple but passionate gamekeeper. The heroine realizes that intellectual conversations with her insensitive husband do not bring her female happiness. And she "fills in" physical closeness on the side.
Meanwhile, the reader learns that the scrotum is full of mysterious heaviness, and “only marital union can be true, the constant basis of which is the phallus.”
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2. Catherine Millet, "The Sexual Life of Catherine M."
The French writer, art critic, and founder of Art Press magazine candidly shares her rich sexual life. The book is aimed at those who are devoid of romantic illusions and can serve as a guide to group sex and oral sex.
The novel is written in such an intricate language that even the most “dirty” and shocking details do not seem vulgar but rather convolutedly meticulous. “With the last throb of the member, the body — except for the backside — dries up, shrivels, and, having finally lost its life juices, like a dry leaf, ceases to exist, dissolving in a shimmering stream of light,” the author describes her sensations, remaining an art critic even in bed.
3. Henry Miller, "Tropic of Cancer"
The autobiographical book by American writer, published in 1934, gained scandalous fame due to its naturalistic descriptions of sex.
But don’t look for strawberries here — Miller is too intellectual for that. However, you will be carried away by the stream of consciousness of a writer stuck in France. At the same time, you will learn that “in Paris, acquaintances and friendships are most often formed on the basis of sex and venereal diseases,” and “in a second of orgasm, the whole world is concentrated.”
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4. André Aciman, "Call Me by Your Name"
An incredibly beautiful story of first all-consuming love unfolds in appropriate settings — during a hot summer, in a luxurious villa in Italy.
The main character, Elio, is 17 years old. He lives with his mother — a psychotherapist — and his father — a historian, who invites one of his graduate students every summer. Elio awakens feelings for one of these guests. All events are shown through the prism of his emotions.
But if you don’t want to read or don’t have time, you can watch the eponymous film from 2017, which won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
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5. Anne Rice, "Sleeping Beauty"
Famous Anne Rice became popular through her debut book — "Interview with the Vampire." The trilogy "Sleeping Beauty," published in the mid-1980s, only solidified the commercial success of this author's novels. However, fearing the wrath of feminists who condemned pornography, Rice took the pseudonym A. N. Rockeler this time.
Anne herself calls Encyclopedia of feminist literature the series of novels about the sexual adventures of a medieval beauty not at all pornographic, but “elegantly sensual” — despite the bent towards hard BDSM with whippings and orgies.
Rice has often been attributed to an obsession with sadomasochism. But the author's husband dispelled these rumors by saying Prism of the night: a biography of Anne Rice that she is as much of a masochist as a vampire. By the way, in her time, Anne refused to meet representatives of the BDSM community who idolized her.
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6. John Cleland, “Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure”
The erotic novel is quite bold even for our times. And what can be said about the mid-18th century when it saw the light. This was a real slap in the face to public morality. Few were ready to savor the wordy descriptions of sensual pleasures set in a brothel.
Since then, the work of Englishman John Cleland has been called an encyclopedia of prostitution. By the way, according to the author, the oldest profession does not prevent one from finding a single love and becoming a virtuous mother of a family.
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7. Pauline Réage, “Story of O”
The erotic novel by French journalist Dominique Aury made a lot of noise in the 1950s. Anticipating an inevitable scandal, she took the pseudonym Pauline Réage and only after 40 years dared to admit authorship.
“Story of O” begins with meeting the man of her dreams — intelligent, wealthy, and handsome René. By the end of the candy-bouquet period, the fairy tale prince takes the girl to a castle, where she ends up in actual sexual slavery. “The corset, tightening the body, forced her to keep standing straight all the time, the chains constantly reminded of obedience, the whip — of submission, silence became her last refuge,” — this is what sometimes leads to romantic dreams.
8. John Updike, “Couples”
A proper American town. Dreary monotonous weekdays. Respectable families. Oh no — they are not so respectable. People need to entertain themselves somehow, and they choose the most accessible option — sex.
Owner of two Pulitzer Prizes, author of the famous “Witches of Eastwick,” John Updike wrote “Couples” at the height of the “swinging sixties.” The erotic novel can be called a true manual on infidelities, with all possible — and sometimes quite unpleasant — physiological details.
However, the numerous characters do not just recklessly swap partners. They manage to socialize, play tennis, and discuss politics.
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9. Samantha Young, “On the Street of Our Love”
Scottish writer Samantha Young started with fantasy for teenagers. And having matured a bit, she switched to erotic novels. Her very first book in this genre — “On the Street of Our Love” — became a bestseller on The New York Times and USA Today.
The main character lost her parents and sister at the age of 14. Now she avoids close relationships to no longer experience the pain of loss. One day, the girl meets a man who is also burdened with memories of the past. They make a deal: between them, it's just sex — and no attachment. This is the story of two wealthy and attractive young people who make love a lot and battle with their inner demons.
10. Maya Banks, “Desire”
Maya Banks is a resident of the patriarchal American South. She is also a mother of three, a faithful wife, and a caring owner of many cats. This does not prevent her from captivating millions of readers with her spicy fantasies.
“Desire” is the first book in the trilogy “Breathless,” which also includes the erotic novels “Passion” and “Burn.” All three were published in 2013 and tell about the sexual adventures of three American millionaires. The friends have joint business and leisure, and sometimes even women. But at some point, each begins their own story filled with sensual pleasures and talks about relationships.
Many accused Banks of imitating “Fifty Shades of Grey” by the Englishwoman E. L. James. However, the author herself assured Interview with best-selling author Maya Banks that she had never read this book. After all, why would she, when this Texas mother of a family has enough imagination. She invents scenes of incredible sex while cooking dinner, fishing, or playing poker.
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