John Cleland, Fanny Hill, or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure

Peter Byrne (Independent Scholar - North America)
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Published in November 1748 as a means of earning its author the funds to gain release from debtor's prison, the

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure

has attracted equal parts popularity and condemnation; only recently has it begun to be viewed as something other than a purely pornographic work. With the growing interest in the birth of genre fiction, however, the

Memoirs

is being recognized as one of the significant works of eighteenth-century fiction.

The novel is told in the first person. Writing in response to the request of an unidentified correspondent, Francis (Fanny) Hill narrates the events of her early life. Lured to London from her home in Lancashire by the tales of her friend Esther Davis, fifteen year-old Fanny is promptly abandoned by the young woman upon reaching the city.

1950 words

Citation: Byrne, Peter. "Fanny Hill, or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 June 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5205, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5205 Fanny Hill, or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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