In the morning of 10th february 1748 John Cleland, writer of mediocre successe, an eccentric “bon vivant” well used to live above his means, enters the gate of Fleet street prison, an institution reserved for those who can't pay back their debts. [read more]

Cleland is obviously despairing. Ralph Griffith, his editor and the only acquaintance who bothers to visit him there, explained that Cleland could be put away for ten years if he fails to present a convincing plan to repay his creditors. In the gloom of his miserable cell Cleland is raking his brain looking for the right subject for a new book. Something so greatly appealing to the public at large that can sell enough copies to repay his huge debts allowing him to escape a harsh sentence. It is during a sleepless night that the revelation comes. Cleland reminisces of the fantastic tales he heard from a very young prostitute, beautiful and adolescent, whilst sitting in the waiting room of a Police Station. He found himself there, surrounded by numerous gamblers, pimps and other colourful types, where he and his very effeminate male friend were expected to see a judge in order to explain the embarassing situation they found themselves in. Cleland now sees clearly:he is certain that the memoirs of a woman of pleasure, an erotic book in fact, will titillate the puritan curiosity of his eighteen century peers. Already savouring his illicit successes Cleland embarks on the journey of writing the indecent story of Fanny Hill, drawing ideas part from memory and part from his own imagination (and the one of his other in-mates) The story of the very young courtesan starts with her leaving her village near Liverpool carrying with her scarce savings and great expectations for a life in the capital. There Fanny wonders looking for a job only to be discovered by Mrs Brown, an expert “madam” of one of the most elegant houses of pleasure in London. She is now initiated to the oldest trade and educated to the high standards commanded by the patrons of this fine establishment. Unexpectedly, the girl seems to endure her trials and the extravagant demands of her wealthy patrons with a detached and amused attitude; her behaviour develops into a dangerously attractive blend of innocence and ruthlessness. Fanny is alert, passionate and unpredictable and when love strikes she has no hesitations in following her destiny at all costs! For her, in fact, meeting Charles and falling in love is one and the same thing. She immediately understands that he is not like all the other punters, but a noble and sensitive gentleman dragged into the house by some reckless friends. For Charles also it was love at first sight and he immediately decides to save her from her condition. After an adventurous escape the couple move in together in a comfortable dwelling rented by the young gentleman and proceed loving each other tenderly and passionately for months on end until disaster strikes! In fact Charles's father, who never approved of the relationship, succeeds in attracting Charles aboard a ship directed towards the West Indies with a subterfuge. He suddendly disappears from Fanny's life abandoning her stranded, poor and, as she discovers soon after, with child. Under pressure from all the mounting bills and ill from the shock of loosing her loved one Fanny is easily manipulated by the landlady, Mrs Jones who first induces her to get futher into debt and then forces her back into prostitution by blackmailing her and threatening to denounce her to the police. The girl is desperate, but where there's a will there's a way. In fact Mrs Jones has already set up a series of appointments with wealthy patrons. More lovers, more mistakes, another escape, but how different this time.... Her new lover, in fact the only support she can now count on, is a convicted felon who will introduce her deeper into an underworld of violence, abuse and squalid whorehouses. It will all end up in tears and in prison. And, always from prison, Cleland continues writing his rocambolesque novel of passion, adventure and disgrace: since everybody loves a happy ending Fanny has now heard of a fabulous inheritance that was left by one of her rich patrons, secretly in love with her. Fanny is now rich and finally happy and, of course, also together with her Charles, the only man she ever really loved. Cleland's erotic novel is now complete and it contains the comedy, the drama, the adventure and an intoxicating happy ending. The manuscript containing this explosive concoction is smuggled out of prison and published with a gigantic success. In spite of being banned, the novel is selling like hotcakes re-printed several times. Cleland is now able to re-pay his debts and he is finally released from prison only to be re-arrested after a short time for the obscenities contained in the book.

FANNY HILL IS STILL AMONGST THE BEST SELLING ENGLISH NOVELS OF THE EIGTHEENTH CENTURY, TRANSLATED AND ILLUSTRATED IN MORE THAN 300 DIFFERENT EDITIONS WORLD-WIDE

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