It depends on what kind of time period you're looking at. In 1877, Charles Knowlton wrote a book entitled The Fruits of Philosophy, which advocated birth control. The book was denounced as 'likely to deprave or corrupt those whose minds are open to immoral influences' and 'obscene libel'.
A few years later, a book by Annie Besant, The Laws of Population, was denounced as 'an indecent, lewd, filthy, bawdy and obscene book'. So the higher you go in society, the less knowledge a woman was supposed to have of sex. Dr. Allison's Book for Married Women was also classed as obscene. However, copies of both The Laws of Population and the Book for Married Women were frequenctly hidden away by the women of the household, as the men would be hugely offended if they found that their women had such books.
However, given Jack's nature, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he'd given those books to Toshiko himself.
This is depite the fact that a man of that time might go into his club with a copy of Fanny Hill or The Lustful Turk under his arm and no-one would take a second glance. If he were to be carrying the Kama Sutra or a Japanese pillow book, be might be congratulated on his acquisition and refined tastes while enjoying brandy and/or cigars with the other men of his club.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2009-07-18 10:30 am (UTC)A few years later, a book by Annie Besant, The Laws of Population, was denounced as 'an indecent, lewd, filthy, bawdy and obscene book'. So the higher you go in society, the less knowledge a woman was supposed to have of sex. Dr. Allison's Book for Married Women was also classed as obscene. However, copies of both The Laws of Population and the Book for Married Women were frequenctly hidden away by the women of the household, as the men would be hugely offended if they found that their women had such books.
However, given Jack's nature, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he'd given those books to Toshiko himself.
This is depite the fact that a man of that time might go into his club with a copy of Fanny Hill or The Lustful Turk under his arm and no-one would take a second glance. If he were to be carrying the Kama Sutra or a Japanese pillow book, be might be congratulated on his acquisition and refined tastes while enjoying brandy and/or cigars with the other men of his club.