An autobiographical erotic novel written by an observant Muslim woman in contemporary North Africa, The Almond is an extraordinary and pioneering literary work, a truly unforgettable journey into the sexual undercurrents of a world that is, outwardly and to Western eyes, puritanical.
The notorious Marquis de Sade wrote this story of the beautiful and devout Justine, whose steadfast faith and naive trust destine her from the outset for sexual exploitation and martyrdom. The unending catalog of disasters that befall her, during which she is subject to any number of perverse practices, illustrate Sade's belief in the primacy of Nature over civilization.
Constance, the young Lady Chatterley, is married to a handsome man. However, his physical limitations lead him to emotionally neglect Constance, and for comfort, she turns to the gamekeeper, Oliver. With explicit descriptions of sex, Lady Chatterly's Lover used language largely unseen in print at that time, which resulted in its banning and the author's censorship.
Baldwin cements his literary influence via this tale of clandestine romance amid a Paris in the thrusts of creative and cultural upheaval. As a result of phrasings textured to engaged the reader's full range of senses, the story's painted pictures realize characters almost realer than life itself.
Three tales of isolation frame legendary storyteller Kawabata's narrative exploration of sex as it effects the human condition. Though Japanese in their cultural contextualization, these glimpses into the expanses of sensuality prove universal in their unearthing of desire's hidden complexities.
