Fanny Hill

Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure has become popularly known as Fanny Hill. It was written in 1748, while John Cleland was in debtors' prison in London. The book is written in the first person, in the form of two Letters, and describes a young woman's sexual exploits from loss of virginity through enthusiastic participation in explicit detail. It is considered the original English prose erotic novel.

John Cleland (1709-1789) was raised in London, where his father was an officer in the British Army. Cleland entered Westminster School in 1721, but he left or was expelled in 1723. His departure was not for financial reasons, but whatever misbehavior or allegation had led to his departure is unknown. He entered the British East India Company after leaving school, beginning as a soldier and working his way up into the civil service of the company and lived in Bombay from 1728 to 1740. He returned to London when recalled by his father, who was dying. Upon William's death, the estate went to his mother for administration. She, in turn, did not choose to support John.

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