Memoirs of Fanny Hill

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure—popularly known as Memoirs of Fanny Hill is considered "the first original English prose pornography, and the first pornography to use the form of the novel". It is one of the most prosecuted and banned books in history.


The novel consists of two long letters (which appear as volumes I and II of the original edition) by Frances "Fanny" Hill, a rich Englishwoman in her middle age, who leads a life of contentment with her loving husband Charles and their children, from Fanny to an unnamed acquaintance, identified only as 'Madam.' Fanny has been prevailed upon by 'Madam' to recount the 'scandalous stages' of her earlier life, which she proceeds to do with 'stark naked truth' as her governing principle.