Joie D'Amour (An An Erotic Memoir of Paris in the 1920s)

What a fabulous book of six stories set in Paris in the 1920's long before womens lib and at a time when made no bones (forgive the pun) about equality and keeping lovers just like their husbands might do. Anne Marie Villefranche is an exciting writer (actually a pseudonym for an unknown to me British female author) and her erotic stories are actually interesteing. The discussions between the lovers have a point to them and show intelligence making the book an easy read. The stories although told through the eyes of mostly the male hero, allows us to get the full flavour of the multifaceted female mind and her thoughts on sexuality, eroticism and all those oh so delicious sins of the flesh. One of the best and most exquisite erotic short stores that I have ever read is in this collection, 'The Solicitude of Pauline Deveraux'. The story deals with a very young Roger takinging his date Gisele home for the night. Gisele advises Roger in the taxi that her mother is out with her boyfriend, probably for the night, and she is now ready to allow his amourous advances finally reach their goal. Once at home and on the sofa doing what comes naturally, the two young lovebirds are surprised by Giseles mom, Pauline. Mom tells her daughter to go to the bedroom as she will deal with her in the morning, and she then sits down beside Roger to give her a piece of her mind, and, as we find out a lot of other things as well..... I loved this book and hope a reprint run is around the corner....