The Boundaries of Desire

Sequel to critically acclaimed 'Sex and Punishment'. Written with storytelling flair, this is a captivating history of the transformation of sex law over the last 100 years. Spicy and entertaining without lapsing into the tawdry and perspicacious, it will take a central place in the international debates over the laws governing sexual behaviour.

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'The Boundaries of Desire' tells the story of how nearly every aspect of Western sexual morality has been turned on its head over the past hundred years, with the law always a few steps behind. Beginning when the law guarded the sanctity of the "family home" by permitting men to rape their wives, continuing on through the "sexual revolution" and focusing on the present day, where debates surrounding prostitution, sex trafficking and sex on the internet fill the headlines, Eric Berkowitz takes us on the wild ride that brought us here, dissecting modern sex law in the process. From Baudelaire-worshipping aristocrats and gays "cured" with lobotomies to pornography-loving vice enforcers and webcam sex operators, as well as prime ministers, presidents, and generals, 'The Boundaries of Desire' focuses on the experiences of real people, famous and obscure, who played central roles in the formation of our sexual rights. With incisive and lively storytelling, this entertaining and captivating book exposes the darker aspects of the rules governing sexual behaviour throughout the world - especially the ones many of us hold dear.