L'École des filles
L'Escole des Filles ou la Philosophie des dames is an erotic book by an unknown author, first published in Paris in 1655 , in which two cousins discuss sexual issues.
history
First edition and trial
The circumstances under which L'Escole des Filles was published are known in greater detail thanks to the research carried out by Frédéric Lachèvre (1855–1943), who also discovered the files of the court case for the publication of the work in the archive.
In the spring of 1655, the Parisian printer Louis Piot agreed to set and publish 300 copies of L'Escole des Filles , 50 of them on high-quality paper. The editors were Jean L'Ange and Michel Millot. The manuscript was penned by L'Anges, but this does not necessarily mean that he was the author. Millot, who bore three quarters of the costs, was either a tax auditor under Louis XIV or was responsible for paying the Swiss soldiers. According to his own statements, L'Ange was born in Paris in 1610 and also worked as a stable master for the king. The title page came from the workshop of the illustrator and engraver François Chauveau . The bookbinder in charge was Louis Framery.
Piot carelessly tried to get the corporation of booksellers and printers to guarantee impunity, whereupon the prosecutor was informed about the scandalous book. On June 12, L'Ange was arrested and most of the circulation was found in Millot's apartment. Millot himself could not be found and was fleeting. The court ruling was issued on August 7th and provided for the confiscation of all of Millot's property, which could hardly be enforced in the case of a fugitive. On August 9th, he was burned in effigy along with the confiscated books . L'Ange was fined 200 livres but remained in custody until October 8 because of the court holidays. None of the non-confiscated copies of the first edition of the work have survived.
New editions and mention in other works
Until the middle of the 19th century, L'Escole des Filles was only reported in connection with the Carpentariana ou Remarques d'histoire, de morale, de critique, d'érudition et de bons mots de M. Charpentier , published in 1724 . This collection, compiled by an author named Boscheron, about François Charpentier (1620–1702) names “Helot” as the author and gives a brief account of the legal proceedings brought against him. To what extent Carpentariana actually goes back to Charpentier's own memories is uncertain.
The doctor Guy Patin names "Milot" as the author in a letter addressed to his Lyon colleague Charles Spon in 1655 .
The first editions still preserved today are Dutch pirated prints from 1667 and 1668. The madrigal , possibly composed by Claude Le Petit (1638–1662) and which precedes the work in the Dutch editions, is the author - apparently because of a printing error Dedicated to "Monsieur Mililot". It is unlikely that the original edition contained this dedication, as Millot had the work secretly printed and had no interest in betraying himself.
Although cited as such several times, it is doubtful that Millot was the author of L'Escole des Filles , since in that case it would be his only work.
Samuel Pepys reports in his diaries that he bought “L'escholle des filles”, the “idle rogue book” (the idle, rogueish book) in a bookstore and, after reading it, burned it.
In 1865 Auguste Poulet-Malassis published a new edition of the book in Brussels.
In the novel Eros in Town ("Lust in der Stadt"), published in England in 1989 , this book has been woven into the plot by the author.
An English translation, The School of Venus, or the Ladies Delight, Reduced into Rules of Practice , appeared in 1680.
content
In the summary that precedes the two dialogues of the main part, the circumstances of the plot are briefly described. Robinet, the son of a trader, is in love with a young girl named Fanchon, whom he is unable to approach due to her naivete. Therefore, he convinces Fanchon's older cousin Susanne to enlighten her through a trusting conversation and at the same time ignite her lust.
During the course of their conversation, Susanne and Fanchon talk about a variety of topics, such as age at marriage, male and female reproductive organs, and intercourse. At the end of the first dialogue, Fanchon agrees to be deflowered by Robinet .
The second dialogue takes place a few days later. When Susanne asked, Fanchon gave a detailed report of her first intercourse with Robinet. The two women address other issues, including sex positions, flagellantism , penis sizes, contraception, and marriage.
literature
- Frédéric Lachèvre: Le libertinage au XVII e siècle. Slatkine, Geneva 1968 (repr.)
- Foreword in Pascal Pia (Ed.): L'École des filles ou la philosophie des dames. L'Or du Temps, Collection Bibliothèque Privée, Paris 1969.
- Anonymous (Derek Parker): Lust in der Stadt, Rowohlt 1997, ISBN 3499127768