The Romance of Lust

The Romance of Lust, or Early Experiences is a Victorian erotic novel written anonymously in four volumes during the years 1873-1876 and published by William Lazenby. The novel is told in first person, and the protagonist of the novel is Charlie Roberts. Charlie possesses virility, and a seemingly insatiable sexual appetite. The novel begins with "There were three of us-Mary, Eliza, and myself." Charlie describes his sexual initiation as an adolescent-as he is "approaching fifteen". He catalogs his sexual experiences including incest with his sisters Eliza and Mary, sex with his governesses, and his later sexual exploits with various male and female friends, and acquaintances. Besides incest, the book deals with a variety of other sexual activities. Taboo subjects such as homosexuality, incest, and pedophilia are common themes in the novel.