The Lustful Turk

The Lustful Turk, or Lascivious Scenes from a Harem is a pre-Victorian British erotic epistolary novel. The series of letters written by its heroine, Emily Barlow, to her friend, Sylvia Carey reveal an extraordinary story. When Emily sails from England for India in June 1814 her ship is attacked by Moorish pirates and she is taken to the harem of Ali, dey of Algiers. Ali rapes her and subjects her to his will, awakening her sexual passions. Emily's debasement continues when Ali insists on anal sex, arousing the horror of her correspondent Sylvia, who expresses her indignation at Ali's behaviour, in a letter that the latter intercepts. Annoyed at her attitude, Ali arranges for Sylvia to be abducted and brought to the slave market of Algiers.