The Vagina: A Literary and Cultural History

From South Park to Kathy Acker, and from Lars Von Trier to Sex and the City, women's sexual organs are demonized. Rees focuses on this paradox of what is termed the 'covert visibility' of the vagina and on its monstrous manifestations. The Vagina: A Literary and Cultural History is an important contribution to the ongoing debate in understanding the feminine identity. That is, what happens when the female body refuses to be pathologized, eroticized, or rendered subordinate to the will or intention of another? Common, and often offensive, slang terms for the vagi

Ranging from Indian folktales of vagina dentata to the surprising popularity of vaginas in postmodern art, Rees’ book is a whirlwind tour of the literary and cultural history of the treatment (and mistreatment) of female genitalia. However, the casual reader may be discouraged by the overwhelmingly dense nature of the information that is presented, with regrettably minimal analysis. Still, the excellent citations and quality of the information offered will appeal to scholarly readers. Helpful parenthetical asides define the more esoteric academic language. From Booklist Don’t be fooled by the playful pink cover—this book is not for the faint of heart. Best for academic libr

Emma L.E. Rees is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Chester, UK.

"More than you would expect" according to stephen howe. I saw this book reviewed in our local Sydney newspaper and it received excellent reviews.As a doctor(and a man) I was interested by this book on professional and personal levels.It gave an excellent insight into the myths and taboos surrounding the female organ.We should all respect it,after all over fifty percent of the population have one, and most of us came out of one!Sadly,medical school (in the 1980s) did not teach female medicine well.The anatomy and physiology of the female genitalia perhaps,but this excellent book looks at the social and . An Outstanding Read Rees moves effortlessly here through a variety of historical periods and a wide genre of “art” to demonstrate her points about the female anatomy. From artists such as the Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi (and her Judith paintings) to Georgia O’Keefe (Black Iris) and from writers such as Chaucer (Canterbury Tales) and Rabelais (Gargantua and Pantagruel) to Denis Diderot (Les Bijoux Indiscrets), William Burroughs (The Naked Lunch), and Susanna Kaysen (Girl, Interrupted); and from photographers such as Renée Cox and Zoe. Gotta love this book! I haven't even read it yet, but hey, you gotta love the cover. I'm a gynecologist, and I just leave it out because it is so awesome!