There is nothing new under the sun, from the ancient Greek wars where women withdrew their sexual favours to stop their menfolk fighting right through Countess Elizabeth Bathory up to the 1890s art and literature on Man's desire to be dominated by the superior sex. An example is the painting opposite by Bruno Schulz.

Most famous of all is Sacher Masoch's book, Venus in Furs, from which the word masochist derives. The book is about a poet, Severin, who craves to be dominated and beaten by a beautiful woman, Wanda. This is a classic erotic novel, although to describe it as such is to do it a disservice. Masoch's book, mostly auto-biographical, is a philosophical discourse on the nature of power, a morality tale and really the first serious attempt to describe the masochistic experience (masochist being a word we wouldn't have if it wasn't for the influence the book had).

Written in the 1870's the book's interest lies not only in Severin's desires, but Wanda's inner journey. Wanda's initial reluctance to beat Severin comes out of her love for him, not disgust, and only to please him. As she begins she recoils when she finds it enjoyable. As the story progresses she learns to enjoy the feeling of dominance, but as a consequence she loses respect for Severin and ends up despisimg him.