Histoire de la prostitution chez tous les peuples du monde depuis l'antiquité…
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Okay, let's set the scene. This isn't a novel—it's a sprawling, ambitious history book written in the 1800s. Paul Lacroix (using the pen name P.L. Jacob) decided to trace the story of prostitution across the entire globe, from its earliest mentions in ancient texts right up to his own time.
The Story
He starts in the ancient Middle East and Egypt, showing how temples and rituals sometimes involved sacred sex. Then he marches through Greece and Rome, where it was a regulated, taxed part of city life. The book follows the thread through the Middle Ages, where the church condemned it but towns often licensed brothels for 'public order.' He covers different cultures in Asia and the Middle East, and finally lands in the cities of 19th-century Europe, with all their moral panics and new laws.
Why You Should Read It
What grabbed me was the sheer scale. Lacroix pulls from laws, literature, and travelogues to build his case. You see patterns repeat: societies banning it, then tolerating it, then trying to control it. The author doesn't really focus on individual stories, but the weight of all those laws and debates tells its own powerful story about gender, economics, and hypocrisy. Reading his 19th-century perspective on even older times is a fascinating mind-bend.
Final Verdict
This is for the curious reader who loves deep-dive social history. It's perfect if you're interested in how societies work, love primary source material, or enjoy books like Guns, Germs, and Steel that look at big human patterns. It's not a light read, but it's a truly unique one. Just be ready for the writing style of its time—it's a journey worth taking.
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George Robinson
6 months agoAfter finishing this book, the emotional weight of the story is balanced perfectly. Thanks for sharing this review.
John King
1 year agoI was skeptical at first, but the content flows smoothly from one chapter to the next. I couldn't put it down.
Brian Thomas
4 months agoGreat reference material for my coursework.