Research Catalog

Title

With the hand : a cultural history of masturbation / Mels van Driel ; translated by Paul Vincent.

Author

Driel, Mels van, 1954-

Publication

London : Reaktion books, 2012.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Vincent, Paul (Paul F.)

Description

255 p. : ill.; 23 cm.

Summary

"Most women do it at home; men, it seems, do it everywhere. Some consider it a health treatment, others as love for themselves. Yet despite everyone doing it, no one actually talks about it: masturbation is still taboo, and even today the subject is not discussed at dinner parties or soirées. To help the world overcome its diffidence towards solo sex Mels van Driel has written With the Hand. Consulting theologians, historians, classicists, doctors, sexologists, connoisseurs, artists, philosophers, writers, poets, musicians, feminists and chauvinists, Van Driel answers questions about what masturbation actually is, and describes the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Covering a great number of topics, from the physical, to the mythical, to the mythological, to the artistic, this book explores masturbation in all its astonishing variety. From statistics of age, location and frequency, to the effects of circumcision, to multiple orgasms, he also explores masturbation in art, literature, poetry, song, religion and philosophy. Frequently astounding, often humorous and always informative, With the Hand refutes the many myths and confusion surrounding this universal, yet unmentionable pursuit. Making an unusual gift, this is perhaps the ultimate bedtime book."--Publisher's website.

Uniform Title

Met de hand : ean culturele geschiedenis van de soloseks. English

Alternative Title

Met de hand : ean culturele geschiedenis van de soloseks.

Subject

Masturbation

Note

• Originally published in Dutch: Amsterdam : Uitgeverij De Arbeiderspers, 2010.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliography (p. 242-246) and index.

Language (note)

• English adaptation of 'Met de hand : ean culturele geschiedenis van de soloseks'.

Contents

Introduction -- Ages, locations and frequencies. Small children -- Young people -- Adults and the elderly, fat and thin -- Times and locations -- Education. Loving yourself -- Back in 1925 -- Masturbation after circumcision -- Masturbation and the mentally handicapped -- Masturbation to order -- Workshops for women: lessons in masturbation -- Multiple orgasms -- The masturbation repertory -- fingering -- The female prostate and ejaculation -- The discovery of the clitoris -- In the presence of others -- Sex aids. Sex toys -- Dildos, vibrators and pins -- History -- The vibrator as a medical instrument -- Men on sex aids -- Online shopping -- The Butt plug Gnome -- Horses -- A Good Orgasm is beyond price -- Anal stimulation -- Artificial ejaculation -- the volume, smell and taste of sperm -- Bill Clinton -- Animals. Dr Tatiana -- The zoo director -- Doctors and other scientists. Tissot -- Marie Antoinette -- Ailments caused by onanism -- Causes of onanism -- Remedies -- Neurasthenia, nutrition and more curious objects -- Clitoridectomy -- the 'bringers of enlightenment' -- Scholars in the humanities -- Masturbation and prostate cancer -- Other modern insights -- The internet and diaries -- Culture, religions and philosopher. Mythology -- The Old Testament and Judaism -- Onan -- Ezekiel -- The Christian churches -- Islam -- Taoism -- Modern philosophers -- Conclusions -- Writers and poets. Classical texts -- French priapic verse of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries -- Male authors -- Female authors -- More poems -- Entertainment. Songs and limericks -- Films -- Artists. Giorgione -- Titian -- Rembrandt -- Baudouin -- Rops -- Klimt -- De Feure -- Beardsley -- Schoff -- Schiele -- Grosz -- Schad -- Dalí -- Fischl -- Serrano -- Emin -- McKenzie -- In conclusion. Morality -- Taboo.

Call Number

JFD 12-3702

ISBN

• 9781861899194 (cased)
• 186189919X (cased)

OCLC

757148853

Author

Driel, Mels van, 1954-

Title

With the hand : a cultural history of masturbation / Mels van Driel ; translated by Paul Vincent.

Imprint

London : Reaktion books, 2012.

Bibliography

Includes bibliography (p. 242-246) and index.

Language

English adaptation of 'Met de hand : ean culturele geschiedenis van de soloseks'.

Added Author

Vincent, Paul (Paul F.)

Research Call Number

JFD 12-3702