Histoire de la prostitution chez tous les peuples du monde depuis l'antiquité la plus reculée jusqu'à nos jours, tome 1/6

In this meticulously researched volume, the author traces the presence of sexual commerce from the earliest recorded societies to the modern city. Drawing on sources ranging from Greek inscriptions to medieval city statutes, he shows how prostitution was woven into law, religion, and everyday life. The narrative reveals surprising continuities, such as the state's ambivalent protection of sex workers, alongside striking regional variations.

The work does not shy away from the moral debates that have surrounded the trade; instead, it places them within the broader evolution of social norms and philosophical thought. By comparing temple rites of ancient Mesopotamia, medieval European regulations, and early nineteenth‑century French reforms, the author illustrates how attitudes shift while the underlying human impulses remain. Readers gain a nuanced picture of a practice that has been both condemned and tolerated, offering a foundation for understanding its lingering legacy.

While the study stops before the twentieth‑century upheavals, its exhaustive catalog of laws, literary references, and statistical data provides a solid framework for later scholars. The careful footnotes and bilingual excerpts make it accessible to both historians and curious listeners. It invites reflection on how societies balance public morality with private desire.