My Secret Life: An Erotic Diary of Victorian London by Anonymous [1966 PAPERBACK] • Grove Press • Volumes I-XI

My Secret Life - An Erotic Diary of Victorian London - Volumes I-XI [Abridged but Unexpurgated] by Anonymous with intro by Gershon Legman [believed to be written by Henry Spencer Ashbee]

VINTAGE PAPERBACK [1966] GROVE PRESS

2nd Grove printing.

Extra thick paperback in very good reading condition.

Tanning and creasing to cover; spot of staining on rear. 

Binding is tight and pages are clean.  Perfect reading copy!

'My Secret Life' is perhaps the most infamous of all underground Victorian erotica. It is the sexual memoir of a well-to-do gentleman who began at an early age to keep a diary of his erotic behavior. He continues this record for over 40 years, creating in the process a unique social & psychological document.

Authorship of the book is mysterious. Henry Spencer Ashbee, a book collector, writer & bibliographer notable for his particular focus on sexuality is suspected by some to be "Walter". He is very likely the compiler of the book's index, the provider of some editorial assistance & the person who saw the text into print.

Gershon Legman was 1st to link "Walter" & Ashbee in Legman's introduction to the 1962 reprints of Ashbee's bibliographies. The 1966 Grove Press edition of 'My Secret Life' included an expanded version of that essay.