In 1970, Sexual Politics explained why sexual relationships – and indeed sex itself – are political. ‘The world was sleeping,’ wrote Andrea Dworkin of this book. ‘And Kate Millett woke it up.’
British writer Angela Carter was a creative trailblazer. And in 1979, she published a book attempting the near impossible, claiming Sade –pornographer and literary bad boy – as a proto-feminist.
Erica Jong’s 1973 novel about one woman’s sexually daring search for freedom changed lives, and sold around 35 million copies. Though her racism now shocks, much of the book speaks to our moment.
In Intercourse, Andrea Dworkin set out to expose the power dynamics underpinning sexual relationships. Her book was pilloried in the 1980s, but many of her ideas no longer look so radical.