City of Sin: London and Its Vices

City of Sin: London and Its Vices, known in the United States under the title The Sexual History of London, is a 2010 publication authored by British writer, scholar, and journalist Catharine Arnold. The work garnered favorable critiques upon release.

Background

Arnold has written multiple specialized historical works centered on London and previously worked as a high-end escort within the city.

Synopsis

This volume traces the sexual history of London from AD 80 through to modern times, concentrating on aspects such as the sex trade, homosexuality, pornography publishers based on Fleet Street, and the city's comparatively permissive attitude relative to other metropolitan areas. It presents a vivid account of London during its most unfiltered and energetic periods.

Reception

City of Sin attracted positive attention. Sarah Bakewell from The Independent characterized it as "lively," whereas Stephanie Merritt of The Observer offered a somewhat ambivalent perspective, critiquing its favorable depiction of sex work but recognizing it as "a lively affirmation of sexual desire in all its varieties." The New York Journal of Books commended it as a "magnificent chronicle" that enhances insight into the progression of London's sexual culture.