8 classic erotic books that aren't 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

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Image: tuk69tuk/Associated Press




"Oh, I’ve got all the Shades...I can take some guilty pleasure and just read," Oprah Winfrey told Harper's Bazaar about bestselling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey. "But I’m thinking, 'Stop with the story, get to the juicy part!'"

The entertainment mogul isn't the only one with sexy fiction on her mind. Despite taking bookshelves — and soon movie theaters — by storm, Fifty Shades of Grey is hardly the first, or last, literature of its kind. Thank goodness.


Defined as
"works of art or literature that deal with sex and are meant to cause sexual feelings"

by Merriam-Webster, erotica's history dates all the way back to antiquity. The ancient Greek lyricist, Sappho, who inspired the term "lesbian" wrote erotic poems. Even Shakespeare wrote an erotic version of Venus and Adonis in the 16th century before Romeo and Juliet hit the scene.
In the past century, erotic writings faced censorship, or at least were considered highly controversial. But these days, erotica has been popularized in big thanks to fan fiction outlets, which have a strong online presence. 

In 2012 half of Amazon's top-selling books were of a romantic nature. As for No. 1 — congrats, E. L. James.



E.L. James
Image: Charles Sykes/Associated Press

We compiled a list of significant works in erotica literature — because there is life outside of Fifty Shades of Grey.

1. Kama Sutra by Vātsyāyana

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An informative sexual and relationship manual from second century India, The Kama Sutra is considered one of the first works of erotica.
Image: Penguin Classic 

2. The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

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Just second in popularity to Fifty Shades of Grey but steadfastly growing, The Crossfire Series has taken over chart rankings -- from Amazon's top selling book list to USA Today's. The first novel, Bared to You, focuses on the relationship of two young people who discover they're both victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Image: Berkley 

3. Vox by Nicholson Baker

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A 1992 novel chronicling two people's phone sex, Vox hung out on the New York Time's bestsellers list for quite some time. This book also stirred Monica Lewinsky enough to gift a copy to Bill Clinton.
Image: rororo 

4. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

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Featuring a relationship between a middle-aged man and a 12-year-old girl, this novel first shocked audiences when it released in 1955. It was banned by the French government and rejected by multiple publishers, according to The Atlantic. Now, it is a classic example of 20th century erotic literature.
Image: Vintage

5. Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland

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More commonly known after its protagonist's name, Fanny Hill, this novel was considered very controversial in the 1960s; but its original release was in 1749, according to The Boston Globe, making it one of the first major works of English erotica. Funny thing is, Cleland doesn't use one obscene word in his story about a prostitute — just lots of genitalia metaphors.
Image: Wordworth Classics 

6. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

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The Guardian's No. 59 from its list of 100 best novels is The Tropic of Cancer. The 1934 novel, written and published in Paris during the times of Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, was discouraged in America and the UK. It is said that Miller's free attitude inspired the likes of Kerouac.
Image: Grove Press 

7. Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin

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Delta of Venus consists of a series of short erotic stories written mostly in the 1940s. The collection is known to include a wide range of sexual taboos. Author Nin was deceased by the time they published, but is considered a pioneer in female-written pornography.
Image: Mariner Books 

8. The Story of O by Anne Desclos

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Published 51 years ago, this pornographic book was written under the pseudonym Pauline Reage. A decade later, a female journalist by the name of Anne Desclos revealed she penned the book in honor of her secret lover. The book is now considered a national triumph in France, according to The Guardian.
Image: Ballantine Books 

Note: Maybe don't read these while riding the bus.

Source:Mashable