The Origin of the World: a History of the Vagina - Tapa dura

"Entertaining and illuminating." -- Lucy Ellmann "The Glasgow Herald" (02/01/2005) "Entertaining and illuminating."--Lucy Ellmann"The Glasgow Herald" (02/01/2005) "A highly satisfactory collection . . . fascinating accounts of the physiology of vaginal response, thoughtful readings of literature, films, and works of art, and a surprising range of trivia. The erudite book displays a brisk and slightly demented sense of humor."--Jenny Davidson"Village Voice" (05/03/2005) "A wise and sympathetic view from a knowledgable male professional who has really been listening to women. Drenth's book is full of intriguing anecdotes both personal and historical."--Rachel Maines, author of The Technology of the Orgasm: Hysteria, the Vibrator and Women's Sexual Satisfaction (11/01/2004) "A highly satisfactory collection .. . fascinating accounts of the physiology of vaginal response, thoughtful readings of literature, films, and works of art, and a surprising range of trivia. The erudite book displays a brisk and slightly demented sense of humor." --Jenny Davidson"Village Voice" (05/03/2005)" "An engrossing read: amusing, frightening, and informative in turns. Drenth has provided an excellent basic resource for thinking about women's genitalia as more than flesh and function." --Virginia Braun"BMJ Journals" (04/23/2005) "Entertaining and illuminating."--;i>The Glasgow Herald"--Lucy Ellmann"The Glasgow Herald" (02/01/2005) "Entertaining and illuminating."--Lucy Ellmann, The Glasgow Herald

A revealing, intimate and liberating study of female sexuality. It examines the vagina historically, anatomically, anthropologically and biologically, drawing on many sources including medical texts, myth, science fiction and fantasy, and feminist and lesbian literature, with illuminating critical observations. The book goes back to the Middle Ages, examines non-Western cultural practices, including clitoridectomy and virginity checks, tests Freud's theories on coitus, and deals at length with sexual desire, lovemaking and orgasm.