Smut
I had an interesting conversation recently with my Mother regarding erotic scenes in literature.
As you do.
This came about as she had, at my recommendation, recently completed reading the Sebastian Faulkes novel, ‘Birdsong’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdsong_%28novel%29.
The book largely focuses on the work done by military engineers during the particularly bloody battles at Ypres and The Somme during the First World War.
There is however, a long introduction which details a period spent in the same area of France by the protagonist (a young Englishman called Stephen Wraysford) some years before hostilities commenced whilst working in the textiles industry.
The book is extremely graphic in both its depiction of war, and the sexual exploits of Wraysford with his employers young wife.
We discussed the somewhat explicit nature of these chapters and whether they in fact, added anything to the development of the story.
I actually thought back to reading the book several years before and thinking at the time:
“Q: Good lord. Did people give each other blowjobs in the late Victorian era?
A: Based on that rather horrifying visit several years ago to the Amsterdam Museum of Erotic Art - they did. Especially to horses.”
Sex scenes are a bit of a minefield in literature and as any regular reader will likely agree, are rarely handled that well.
It’s something that I’m mindful of having once again commenced work on ‘my novel’. A story that will largely be concerned with the development of a dysfunctional relationship. Sex is going to come into it at some point and it’s key to walk that fine line between pre-watershed prudishness and disappearing with reckless abandon (and frilly knickers) into the realms of Anais Nin.
Somewhat horrifyingly for the aspiring author, the literary world is clearly watching closely:
