First published in the 1920s, this isn't a novel with a plot, but a historical investigation. Bauer acts like a detective, sifting through centuries of German history—from the Middle Ages to the 1800s. He pieces together evidence from sources most history books ignore: old court records about marriage disputes, bizarre medical texts, popular jokes, and even banned pamphlets. His goal is to answer one big question: how did everyday people's attitudes toward sex and relationships change over hundreds of years?

Why You Should Read It

This book will surprise you. You'll find debates about women's rights in the 1600s, discussions about sexual consent that feel eerily current, and learn that our ancestors were far from simple or uniform in their beliefs. Bauer doesn't paint a rosy picture; he shows the harsh realities of punishment and social stigma, but also the incredible resilience of human desire and intimacy. It's a powerful reminder that the 'past' wasn't a monolith—people argued, loved, and struggled with these issues just as we do.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history buffs who are tired of just reading about kings and battles, and for anyone curious about the social history of everyday life. Be warned, it's an academic text from another era, so the language can be dense and some views are dated. But if you're willing to look past that, it offers a raw, unfiltered, and utterly compelling window into the private world of the past. It's not a light read, but it's a profoundly enlightening one.