The Sinner's Grand Tour: A Journey Through the Historical Underbelly of Europe

Family in tow, Perrottet (Pagan Holiday) explores the vice palaces of earlier eras, from Scottish sex clubs to the buried brothels of Pompeii and the marquis de Sade's castle in Provence. Perrottet also tries to track down various infamous objects, including the lost sex chair of King Edward VII and a hidden room in the Vatican that contains legendary erotic paintings by Raphael. Along the way, Perrottet provides history, scenic descriptions, and a narrative of his attempt to keep two small children happy as they're dragged across Europe. The narrative works best as a scattershot pop history of the sexual antics of (mostly) wealthy Europeans over the centuries. There are fascinating anecdotes about everything from chastity belts to Mary Shelley's nipples. However, as a contemporary travelogue, the book falls short. Perrottet tries to drum up enthusiasm for his antiquarian encounters, but there's only so much excitement in describing a day in the stacks or a look at a few faded tiles of chubby nymphs. (May)