REVIEW: The Sweetness of Venus by Sarah Chadwick unravels the fascinating and troubled history of the clitoris in Western culture. The book title is named after sixteenth century Italian anatomist Realdo Colombo who said the clitoris should be called "the love or sweetness of Venus." In his 1559 book on human anatomy, Colombo documented the clitoris and advocated for its rightful recognition. In a similar fashion, Sarah Chadwick advocates for female pleasure as well as presenting the cultural history of women's sexuality.
This provocative, straight-talking historical narrative exposes the denial and misunderstanding surrounding the female anatomy. For millennia, scientists thought the vagina was an inside-out penis, and male anxiety about female sexuality generated ludicrous ideas and perpetuated misinformation about women. The book prioritises the importance of the clitoris and pleasure, backed up by science, historical narratives and much humour. A pleasurable read.