Memoirs of Fanny Hill
A New and Genuine Edition from the Original Text (London, 1749)
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, known everywhere as Fanny Hill, was written by John Cleland in a debtors' prison and published in London in 1748 and 1749. In two long letters to an unnamed lady, Fanny describes how she came to London from Lancashire as an orphan of fifteen, was taken into a brothel, fell in love with a young gentleman, lost him, and made her way through a series of keepers and clients before fortune and virtue were, by her account, reconciled. It is the first English pornographic novel, and also a genuine novel, with a shrewd heroine and a comic eye. It was suppressed on publication and remained formally banned in Britain and the United States until the 1960s. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Memoirs of Fanny Hill
Memoirs of Fanny Hill by John Cleland can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Memoirs of Fanny Hill online?
Yes. Memoirs of Fanny Hill opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Memoirs of Fanny Hill free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Memoirs of Fanny Hill is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Memoirs of Fanny Hill in the public domain?
Yes. Memoirs of Fanny Hill by John Cleland is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Memoirs of Fanny Hill?
About 5 h 39 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Memoirs of Fanny Hill?
Memoirs of Fanny Hill by John Cleland is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
