Let S Talk About Varsity

Let's Talk About Varsity

Let’s Talk About Sex

From the start of the new Australian nation in 1901, to the use of the female contraceptive pill in 1961, Let’s Talk About Sex explores the ways sexuality has been constructed, understood and experienced in Australia. Far from being something hidden and private, this work brings sexuality out into the open, and explains why sex is of social, cultural, political and economic importance. Let’s Talk About Sex is an inclusive history, surveying multiple and interwoven forms of sexuality, desire, pleasure, regulation and resistance. It begins with the long Victorian period: the hidden desires of women and the “hydraulic” sexual needs of men, both in the cities and on the frontier. It moves across the decades, considering heterosexuality, homosexuality, lesbians and nascent ideas about queer and sexual difference. Lisa Featherstone highlights the tensions of the ages: venereal disease, homophobia, birth control, rape and child sexual assault. She analyses the ways non-normative sexuality was constructed as evil and perverse, but also how men and women responded to this pathologising of their desires. Let’s Talk About Sex provides a fascinating account of sex, gender, age and race, across the formative years of Australian society.

Max Pemberton: Collected Works

Max Pemberton: Collected Works assembles a diverse array of narratives that deftly intertwine exploration, adventure, and the intricacies of human emotion. Written in a vivid and engaging prose style, Pemberton's works reflect the late 19th and early 20th century literary context, marked by a growing fascination with imperialism and exotic locales. His penchant for rich descriptions and intricate character development invites readers into worlds rife with excitement and ethical dilemmas, offering a panoramic view of the societal landscapes of his time. Max Pemberton, an Anglo-American author born in the 1860s, is often noted for his significant contributions to the genre of travel literature and adventure fiction. His experiences as a traveler in both the East and West, alongside a background in medicine, undoubtedly shaped his keen insights into the human condition and the peculiarities of different cultures. Pemberton's unique blend of personal experience and storytelling gives his works a distinctive authenticity that resonates with readers. This collection is a must-read for enthusiasts of adventure and exploration literature, as well as those interested in the complexities of human experience during a pivotal time in history. Pemberton's Collected Works not only entertains but also challenges its audience to reflect on the moral questions posed by the adventurer's journey, making it an invaluable addition to any literary collection.