For Sale. The Beautiful Flagellants of New York. NY: Grove Press, 1985.

Description

The Beautiful Flagellants of New York is a 19th-century erotic novel, published anonymously in 1868. It is considered part of the Victorian underground literature genre, known for its exploration of taboo and controversial themes during that era. The novel focuses on the practices of a secretive New York society indulging in flagellation, detailing their rituals and relationships.

The work blends explicit content with a satirical critique of societal hypocrisy and excess, common in erotic fiction of the time. While largely intended for shock value, it also offers a historical glimpse into Victorian attitudes toward sexuality and morality.