The Story

There isn't a traditional narrative. Think of it as a global tour guided by a 19th-century French librarian with a very specific research interest. Paul Lacroix, writing as P.L. Jacob, systematically goes through history and geography. He starts in the ancient world, talking about temple rituals in Mesopotamia and the courtesans of Greece. He moves through the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and into his own time. For each period and place, he gathers every reference he can find—laws, religious edicts, literary accounts, and popular anecdotes—to paint a picture of how societies organized, regulated, punished, or tolerated sex work. The 'story' is the sheer scale of his project and the contrast between his formal, encyclopedic style and the intimate, often taboo subject matter.

Why You Should Read It

Don't read this for salacious details (though there are some). Read it to get inside the head of a different time. It's fascinating to see what a smart person in the 1800s thought was important to record about this topic. His judgments are everywhere, often wrapped in moralizing language, which tells you as much about his era as the facts do. You see how laws tried to control human behavior for centuries, often failing in the same ways. The book accidentally becomes less about prostitution itself and more about the endless human struggle to define morality, commerce, sin, and public order. It's a reminder that the debates we think are modern have very, very old roots.

Final Verdict

This is a niche pick, but a rewarding one. It's perfect for history buffs who enjoy primary sources and want to look past kings and battles to the gritty social fabric of everyday life. It's also great for anyone interested in the history of sexuality, sociology, or how books themselves can be historical artifacts. Be warned: it's a product of its time, with all the outdated perspectives that implies. But if you approach it as a curious explorer rather than someone seeking definitive answers, you'll find a strangely compelling and panoramic view of human society from an angle most history books completely ignore.