Bifurcated Girls

In the late Victorian and Edwardian era (1870–1910), a “bifurcated girl” was any woman bold enough to wear divided skirts, bloomers, or the new cycling knickers. One skirt became two legs. One modest silhouette became two scandalous outlines. Society didn’t see fashion; it saw rebellion. A woman who literally split herself was no longer “one” under God and man. She had stepped out of line. … Continue reading Bifurcated Girls

William Goldman

William Goldman (1856-1922), a respected photographer in Reading, Pennsylvania, documented both middle-class life and the clandestine world of a nearby brothel. His intimate, compassionate portraits of sex workers reveal raw human vulnerability, presenting a contrasting narrative to societal norms. Goldman’s secretive work offers profound insights into early 20th-century American hypocrisy. Continue reading William Goldman

Mysteries of the Verbena House

In the dim hallways of Victorian England, where strict decorum hid the most intense cravings, a notorious piece of early BDSM literature appeared: Mysteries of the Verbena House. It first saw the light of day in 1882 under the pen name “Etonensis” (a cheeky reference to the elite Eton College) where the rod symbolised both authority and hidden excitement. The novel has since become a landmark … Continue reading Mysteries of the Verbena House