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Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History by Dagmar Herzog is a captivating and open original description of the turbulent history of sexuality in the European continent. The time period discussed starts from the decline of Victorianism to the Communism disintegration and the rise of Islam in Europe. Even though the 20th century is frequently regarded as “the century of sex” as well the time of rising liberalization, Dagmar Herzog has taken a different approach in describing this period. She has put emphasis on the complications and disagreements in needs and behaviors regarding the sexual attitudes. She has also discussed the contradictions that have surrounded sexual freedom in the modern age. In addition, Herzog has also been successful in highlighting the complexities encountered in the process to secure sexual rights. This book also serves to “reconstruct the ways people in the past imagined sex and what kind of assumptions and emotions they brought to it” (Herzog 5).
The most enthralling feature of this book is that the author has incorporated the most up to date study and research on an extensive collection of theoretical problems and general perspectives. She has looked into and scrutinized the changing kismet of matrimony and prostitution. In addition, she has also investigated different societal phenomenon like contraception, abortion, family planning as well as perplexing and straight survival. The book also explores sexual violence during warfare and peaceful background. It discusses how sexual satisfaction was promoted and encouraged in fascist and autonomous societies. In addition, issues like the function of eugenics and inoperative conduct, and secularization processes along with religious restitution are also a major part of the book. Herzog has also emphasized on how sex has been employed as a political and commercial commodity in the twentieth century.
Thus, Herzog has put everything in the book that is bold and helpful to understand a century of sexual conduct and viewpoint. She has proved herself as a crafty comparativist as she has dynamically lightened up the surprising ups and downs of the sexual history. There is no doubt that her discussed work is a milestone in European fusion. This feature makes it a must-read for everyone who is interested in history of sexuality. Another significant reason why it is a landmark work is that Herzog has considered the histories of both the worlds i.e. Eastern and Western. In Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History, the author has raised several questions for her readers to ponder over. For instance, she asks why abortion was a desirable thing as compared to contraceptive methods at the beginning of the 20th century and why the scenario has been reversed now. She also pinpoints the societal transformations whereby gays and lesbians were not considered as a ‘taboo’ whereas the mentioned groups are marginalized and considered deviant in the present times.
Accordingly, the readers can relate themselves with the thoughts of the author as she has not favored any side in presenting her ideas. Instead, she has presented her own viewpoint backed up by the historical facts. In short, she has taken a neutral approach while analyzing the fundamental function of sexual observation and practice, ways of life in different civilizations, politics, and brutality.
It won’t be incorrect to state that Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History is a gripping, persuasive and well-reasoned effort by the author to put in a fine distinction to understand sexuality in its historical context. I would recommend this book to all people who have some sort of interest in the history of societal issues. Herzog has addressed a number of major concerns that have perplexed gender historians in the past several years. She has given answers to many unanswered questions and has also unpacked genera postulations related to the progressive era.
This book is particularly recommended for students. This is because most of the times students are presented with historical accounts related to women or nationalistic movements. The female gender has been always given a preference in historical research and study. I don’t want to imply here that the mentioned topics are not significant. However, other topics must also be considered by researchers and writers to write about. I personally believe that Herzog has taken a very bold step in discussing the controversial topics. She has been successful in furnishing a more touching account of events to discuss the opposed views about sexuality. She has tackled the private and societal norms in a very bold manner to highlight the discrepancies of people concerning sexual practices. If truth be told, she has chosen rarely discussed curiosity-provoking topics like lesbianism, sex before and after marriage, masturbating, etc. In doing so, she has not taken the road of vulgarity but explain everything in a very mature way.
As far as my opinion is concerned, I found the book really innovative. Without a doubt, both the students and researchers may take help from this compelling work of Herzog. This is for the reason that she has presented the information, accounts and her own opinions in a very clear and understandable way. However, it is extremely important to mention here that most of the students will find it a very long and thickly-presented book if compared to other textbooks. Even though there are a number of illustrations in the book, the text is rather dense and comprehensive for it to be a textbook. However, I believe that the book will definitely reward everyone who keeps on reading it till the end. The students who are interested in the social structures and changes in the twentieth century will find a treasure of knowledge in Dagmar Herzog’s Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History. In the same way, gender historians will also find it to be a groundbreaking and enthralling work.
Work Cited
Herzog, Dagmar. Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-Century History. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.
