Aphrodisiacal (adj.) describes substances, foods, or actions that arouse, intensify, or stimulate sexual desire and pleasure. Derived from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, these agents—ranging from oysters and chocolate to certain drugs—are believed to boost libido. They work through psychological or physiological effects, though many lack rigorous scientific proof.
The materials presented on this page consist of historical works that are in the public domain. Many of these texts contain explicit erotic content and reflect the social attitudes, literary conventions, and cultural norms of the periods in which they were written.
Readers should be aware that some works may include themes, language, or subject matter that are considered controversial, offensive, or taboo by modern standards. These elements are not endorsed by this site but are preserved as part of the historical and literary record.
This collection is intended for mature audiences and for purposes of research, education, and literary interest. Viewer discretion is advised.
A Collection of Sea Songs and Ditties by Dave E Jones
A Collection of Sea Songs and Ditties (1928) by Dave E. Jones is a collection of 50 various maritime-themed songs and short poems. Buy it on Lulu
A LADIES GUIDE TO THE CORRECTION OF YOUNG MEN by Alice Kerr-Sutherland
A Guide to the Correction of Young Gentlemen; or, The Successful Administration of Physical Discipline to Males, by Females (1924), attributed to Alice Kerr-Sutherland and published anonymously as “Written by a Lady,” is a controversial and unusual work of early 20th-century erotic literature. Rather than being a novel, it is presented as a mock-serious instructional manual that discusses the theory, methods, and practice of corporal punishment administered by women to men. Buy it
Laura Middleton, Her Brother, and Her Lover by Anonymous
“Laura Middleton; Her Brother and her Lover” is an anonymous Victorian erotic novel from the late 19th century. The controversial book explores themes of forbidden desire, incest, and sexual experimentation, reflecting the hidden passions that existed beneath the surface of Victorian society. Buy it on Lulu
Onanism Display’d by Edmund Crull
Onanism Display’d: or, The Heinous Sin of Self-Pollution, and All Its Frightful Consequences in Both Sexes, Considered, With Spiritual and Physical Advice to Those Who Have Already Injured Themselves by This Abominable Practice is an early 18th-century moral and medical treatise by Edmund Crull, a German-born physician who practiced in England. The work belongs to a wave of literature following John Marten’s infamous Onania (1710), which popularized the medical and moral panic around masturbation. Buy it on Lulu
The Covenant School Or Early Experiences of A Young Flagellant by Rosa Coote
The Convent School; or, Early Experiences of a Young Flagellant is a late-Victorian work of erotic literature usually attributed to the pseudonym “Rosa Coote”. It was printed in editions during the 19th century (often cited with an 1876 imprint) and reprinted in later years (a known 1898 printing is catalogued). The work appears in histories of Victorian erotica as an example of clandestine flagellation literature. Buy it on Lulu
THE Fifteen Comforts OF MATRIMONY by Sir Thomas Overbury
Despite its reassuring title, the work is mockingly anti-marriage. It lists fifteen so-called “comforts” a man may expect from marriage, but each “comfort” is actually a bitter irony—highlighting domestic strife, loss of freedom, financial anxiety, nagging, jealousy, and emotional exhaustion. Rather than celebrating companionship, the pamphlet portrays marriage as a steady erosion of peace and autonomy. Buy it on Lulu
The Ladies Delight by Anonymus
The Ladies Delight (1732) is a bold, anonymous 18th-century work that blends biting social satire with erotic prose and poetry. It is primarily known for its use of elaborate botanical metaphors to critique the sexual hypocrisies and social customs of London’s elite. Buy it on Lulu
The Life and Amours Of The Beautiful, Gay and Dashing Kate Percival, The Belle of the Delaware by Kate Percival
The Life and Amours of the Beautiful, Gay and Dashing Kate Percival is a pseudonymous early-20th-century erotic novel presented as the candid autobiography of its heroine, Kate Percival, who openly declares herself a “woman of pleasure.” The narrative traces her life from a lonely and emotionally neglected childhood into adolescence, where her first experiences of intimacy—particularly at boarding school—awaken her curiosity about desire and relationships. These early encounters shape her evolving understanding of sexuality and set the tone for a life driven by sensation, curiosity, and independence. Buy it on Lulu
The Power of Mesmerism by Anonymous
Set in a grand old manor (Brackley Hall in Devon) belonging to the Etheridge family, the story opens with Mr. Etheridge, his wife (of Spanish descent), and their grown children. Into this domestic setting enters the theme of mesmerism (hypnotic/“animal‐magnetism” influence). The male protagonist (or hypnotist figure) utilizes mesmerism to explore and exploit erotic desires and taboos—often involving the family members or people close to them.
Through the mesmerist’s influence, traditional boundaries of sexuality, propriety, and consent become blurred: the mesmerized subjects passively submit, and the narrative uses the device of hypnosis to enable acts that would otherwise be socially unacceptable in the Victorian era. In short: It is a late 19th-century erotic fantasy that uses mesmerism as its mechanism for transgressive sexual exploration, employing the idea of trance, suggestion, and loss of agency to carry the plot forward. Buy it on Lulu $5.47
Ramblings of an Old Coot 