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'''''Delta of Venus''''' is a book of fifteen [[short stories]] by [[Anaïs Nin]] published [[List of works published posthumously|posthumously]] in 1977<ref>I. Ousby ed., ''The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English'' (1995) p. 683</ref> - though largely written in the 1940s as [[erotica]] for a private [[book collector|collector]].<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996) p. 13-16</ref>
'''''Delta of Venus''''' is a book of fifteen [[short stories]] by [[Anaïs Nin]] published [[List of works published posthumously|posthumously]] in 1977<ref>I. Ousby ed., ''The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English'' (1995) p. 683</ref> — though largely written in the 1940s as [[erotica]] for a private [[book collector|collector]].<ref>Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996), pp. 13–16</ref>


In 1995 a film version of the book was directed by [[Zalman King]].
In 1995 a film version of the book was directed by [[Zalman King]].


==Background==
==Background==
The collection of short stories that makes up this anthology was written during the 1940s for a private client known simply as "Collector"'. This "Collector" commissioned Nin, along with other now well-known writers (including [[Henry Miller]] and the poet [[George Barker (poet)|George Barker]]), to produce erotic fiction for his private consumption.<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996) p. 13-16</ref>
The collection of short stories that makes up this anthology was written during the 1940s for a private client known simply as "Collector"'. This "Collector" commissioned Nin, along with other now well-known writers (including [[Henry Miller]] and the poet [[George Barker (poet)|George Barker]]), to produce erotic fiction for his private consumption.<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996), pp. 13–16</ref>


Despite being told to leave poetic language aside and concentrate on graphic, sexually explicit scenarios, Nin was able to give these stories a literary flourish and a layer of images and ideas beyond the pornographic. In her Diary (Oct 1941), she jokingly referred to herself as "the madam of this snobbish literary house of prostitution, from which vulgarity was excluded".<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996) p. 16</ref>
Despite being told to leave poetic language aside and concentrate on graphic, sexually explicit scenarios, Nin was able to give these stories a literary flourish and a layer of images and ideas beyond the pornographic. In her Diary (Oct 1941), she jokingly referred to herself as "the madam of this snobbish literary house of prostitution, from which vulgarity was excluded".<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996), p. 16</ref>


While using the [[Kama Sutra]] and other writings such as those of [[Krafft-Ebing]] as models, Nin was very conscious that the languages of male and female sexuality were distinct.<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996) p. 15 and p. 19</ref> Although at times she scorned her erotica, and feared for their impact on her literary reputation,<ref>Anne T. Salvatore, ''Anaïs Nin's narratives'', [[University Press of Florida]] (2001) ISBN 0-8130-2113-8, p. 17</ref> they have subsequently been seen by [[Sex-positive feminism|sex-positive feminists]] as pioneering work.<ref>Susie Bright, ''Totally Heterotica'' (1995) p. 2</ref>
While using the [[Kama Sutra]] and other writings such as those of [[Krafft-Ebing]] as models, Nin was very conscious that the languages of male and female sexuality were distinct.<ref>* Anaïs Nin, ''Delta of Venus & Little Birds'' (1996), p. 15 and p. 19</ref> Although at times she scorned her erotica, and feared for their impact on her literary reputation,<ref>Anne T. Salvatore, ''Anaïs Nin's narratives'', [[University Press of Florida]] (2001) ISBN 0-8130-2113-8, p. 17</ref> they have subsequently been seen by [[Sex-positive feminism|sex-positive feminists]] as pioneering work.<ref>Susie Bright, ''Totally Heterotica'' (1995), p. 2</ref>


== Themes ==
== Themes ==
Line 90: Line 90:
* Andrew Gibson, ''Postmodernity, ethics and the novel: from Leavis to Levinas'', Routledge, 1999, ISBN 0-415-19895-X, p.&nbsp;177
* Andrew Gibson, ''Postmodernity, ethics and the novel: from Leavis to Levinas'', Routledge, 1999, ISBN 0-415-19895-X, p.&nbsp;177
* [[Noël Riley Fitch]], ''Anaïs: The Erotic Life of Anaïs Nin'' (Boston: [[Little, Brown and Company]], 1993) ISBN 0-316-28428-9
* [[Noël Riley Fitch]], ''Anaïs: The Erotic Life of Anaïs Nin'' (Boston: [[Little, Brown and Company]], 1993) ISBN 0-316-28428-9
* Anais Nin, "Delta of Venus", Penguin Books, 2008 ISBN 978-0141-03730-1
* Anaïs Nin, "Delta of Venus", Penguin Books, 2008 ISBN 978-0141-03730-1


{{Expand German|Das Delta der Venus|date=October 2013}}
{{Expand German|Das Delta der Venus|date=October 2013}}

Revision as of 14:15, 20 October 2014

For the film adaption, see Delta of Venus (film)
Delta of Venus
First edition cover art
AuthorAnaïs Nin
Cover artistMilton Glaser
Richard Merkin (photo)
LanguageEnglish
GenreShort stories, erotica
PublisherHarcourt Brace Jovanovich
Publication date
1977
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages250 pp (first edition)
ISBN0-15-124656-4

Delta of Venus is a book of fifteen short stories by Anaïs Nin published posthumously in 1977[1] — though largely written in the 1940s as erotica for a private collector.[2]

In 1995 a film version of the book was directed by Zalman King.

Background

The collection of short stories that makes up this anthology was written during the 1940s for a private client known simply as "Collector"'. This "Collector" commissioned Nin, along with other now well-known writers (including Henry Miller and the poet George Barker), to produce erotic fiction for his private consumption.[3]

Despite being told to leave poetic language aside and concentrate on graphic, sexually explicit scenarios, Nin was able to give these stories a literary flourish and a layer of images and ideas beyond the pornographic. In her Diary (Oct 1941), she jokingly referred to herself as "the madam of this snobbish literary house of prostitution, from which vulgarity was excluded".[4]

While using the Kama Sutra and other writings such as those of Krafft-Ebing as models, Nin was very conscious that the languages of male and female sexuality were distinct.[5] Although at times she scorned her erotica, and feared for their impact on her literary reputation,[6] they have subsequently been seen by sex-positive feminists as pioneering work.[7]

Themes

In Delta of Venus Anaïs Nin conjures up a glittering cascade of sexual encounters. Creating her own 'language of the senses', she explores an area that was previously the domain of male writers and brings to it her own unique perceptions. Her vibrant and impassioned prose evokes the thematic concerns of the essence of female sexuality in a world where only love has meaning. Within Delta of Venus, Nin explores what constitutes masculinity, patriarchal dominance, homosexual desire, sexual restraint, pedophilia and incest.

Short Stories

1. The Hungarian Adventurer

2. Mathilde

3. The Boarding School

4. The Ring

5. Mallorca

6. Artists and Models

7. Lilith

8. Marianne

9. The Veiled Woman

10. Elena

11. The Basque and Bijou

12. Pierre

13. Manuel

14. Linda

15. Marcel

See also

3

References

  1. ^ I. Ousby ed., The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English (1995) p. 683
  2. ^ Anaïs Nin, Delta of Venus & Little Birds (1996), pp. 13–16
  3. ^ * Anaïs Nin, Delta of Venus & Little Birds (1996), pp. 13–16
  4. ^ * Anaïs Nin, Delta of Venus & Little Birds (1996), p. 16
  5. ^ * Anaïs Nin, Delta of Venus & Little Birds (1996), p. 15 and p. 19
  6. ^ Anne T. Salvatore, Anaïs Nin's narratives, University Press of Florida (2001) ISBN 0-8130-2113-8, p. 17
  7. ^ Susie Bright, Totally Heterotica (1995), p. 2

Further reading

  • Elizabeth Kowaleski-Wallace, Encyclopedia of feminist literary theory, Taylor & Francis, 1997, ISBN 0-8153-0824-8, p. 190
  • Andrew Gibson, Postmodernity, ethics and the novel: from Leavis to Levinas, Routledge, 1999, ISBN 0-415-19895-X, p. 177
  • Noël Riley Fitch, Anaïs: The Erotic Life of Anaïs Nin (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1993) ISBN 0-316-28428-9
  • Anaïs Nin, "Delta of Venus", Penguin Books, 2008 ISBN 978-0141-03730-1
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