Sex. It’s a difficult subject. Full of taboos and embarrassment, subject to boundaries and yet hidden from view in our homes. Well, mostly.This very intimate act in modern times has taken on a transparency as it is widely discussed at dinner tables and public forums, and information on every kink and foible is easily obtainable and exchangeable in the 24/7 online universe.But in more classic times writing verse on Sex was both easier and yet more difficult. Easier as the li...

Abu Nuwas, the pre-eminent bacchic bard of the classical Arabic canon, was loved and reviled in equal measure for his lyrical celebration of Abbasid Baghdad's dissolute nightlife, his cutting satires of religion and the clergy, and the extraordinary range and virtuosity of his literary talent. Vintage Humour contains approximately 120 translations, each replicating the monorhyme scheme of the originals, with commentary where appropriate, a brief history of the poet's life and time...