Love and relationships have always been a recurring theme in any book. From the most classic to the least popular. And the fact is that this type of art has always captured imaginary worlds and stories with infinite possibilities. A good book is one that is capable of trapping, enveloping and immersing the reader in its letters.
But just as in reality, relationships, attraction and love have changed over the years. From the poets who used metaphors to refer to the purest sexual desire to the current authors who succeed in describing in detail sexual encounter with one of the hot girls of the sensual Mumbai escort service. From Federico García Lorca’s “verde que te quiero verde” and the direct and crude Bukowski to E.L. James, Anna Todd or Megan Maxwell among others.
Censorship and taboo
Few years ago there was the boom of erotic literature and suddenly everyone was writing about sex as if there was no tomorrow. It seemed that the subject was beginning to normalize, but it did not, there is still a huge controversy in what literary sex is about, especially when we talk about the erotic genre in particular.
It was practically normal to find references to sex but in a pejorative way. That is, in the form of allusions or explanations of forbidden, furtive relationships, abuse and even prostitutes. These were usually very poor characters, who lived in the worst way. As can be seen in classic stories such as ‘The World of Suzie Wong’ by Richard Mason.
Although other great stories that dared to narrate what at the time nobody would admit out loud were persecuted by the law. Not so long ago, it was frowned upon to show and delve into the darkest desires.
Despite this, erotic literature has developed and evolved. And even other books, not belonging to this genre, have also included some scenes or references to physical pleasure. This is the case of The Lover by Marguerite Duras, The Love Diaries by Anaïs Nin, The Ages of Lulu by Almudena Grandes, Ulysses by James Joyce and Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, among many other examples.
Beyond the Kamasutra
Gone are the days when an explicit sex scene caused great scandals. Those intimate tales of dark, forbidden and hidden relationships with the beautiful escort girls in Australia, are now on display in most bookstores. And there have even been numerous film adaptations.
Some of them have been very successful and well received by the public in many countries. This is the case of the sagas 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James and After by Anna Todd. In which numerous sexual scenes and even nudity are recounted.
The Kamasutra, a sexual book par excellence, is losing prominence to many others nowadays. Books that narrate and explain desire, love and attraction in all its aspects.
When it comes to exploring the world of intimate and physical pleasure, it is important to know several names. Big names on the international scene such as Emma Donoghue (Slammerkin), Bernard Shaw (Mrs. Warren’s Profession), Colette (Cheri), Stephen Crane (Maggie, a Girl of the Streets), Laura Wilson (The Lover).
The magic of words
In a much more liberal world, where the position of the empowered woman has been normalised, it is natural that this is transferred to the literary world. In this world, the personal experiences and values of Riohacha’s prepaid professionals, and all those who are sexually active, are intermingled with imagination, creativity and desires to make the works a reality.
Stories capable of expressing and making people feel more, sometimes, than reality itself. And that is the magic of words. The more one lives, discovers, experiences and speaks, the more these possibilities expand.
Sex, attraction, desire and relationships are as much a part of love as the body itself. It is also introduced into the world of literature. Sensuality and eroticism are part of and complete the sexuality of every person.
But not only in literature, also in advertisements and other types of art. A sample of the eagerness and desire to deepen the learning about the human body and mind.
New opportunities
So much so that even new literary genres and subgenres such as Young Adult are being developed and created. Because these are precisely the people who seem to have acquired a special interest in developing human relationships in greater depth.
The juvenile fantasy sector is already beginning to include this type of more or less subtle scenes. On many occasions, they use and show a great vocabulary and resources to discover this type of encounter. Thus demonstrating the richness of the language itself.
Despite the pandemic and all that has unfortunately happened in recent years, literature is still very popular all over the world. The sale of books has increased, as has the creation of works and online reading.
Every day there are more and more platforms and applications where people can read for free and anyone can write and share their writings. Beyond social networks. That is why it is easy to predict a bright future for literature. For, as with human sexuality, there is still much to explore and develop.