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St Hugh’s Fellow interviewed about auction of Nell Gwyn’s only book

St Hugh’s Tutorial Fellow in English, Professor David Taylor has been interviewed by The Observer about Nell Gwyn’s ‘naughty pop-up book’ which will be auctioned at Christies on 10 December – the first book owned by the celebrated courtesan ever to come to market.

An actress and beloved mistress of King Charles II, Nell Gwyn never learned to read and write. It is thought she owned one book – a copy of Johann Remmelin’s A Survey of the Microcosmem described as “erotically charged”. The book invites readers to undress the naked bodies of men and women by lifting flaps to reveal their “veins, nerves, muscles, bones, sinews and ligaments”.

Professor Taylor said, ‘A book specifically linked to Nell is astonishingly rare. She had this remarkable rags-to-riches journey from orange-seller to leading actress, and then all of a sudden she’s the king’s mistress, pregnant with his children and catapulted into a life of astonishing luxury. But she was known to be illiterate and I think that’s part of what’s going on here. She is being given a book which she can interact with and understand, because it’s a picture book as much as anything else.’

Commenting on the hand-written dedication inscribed in the book by its publisher, Professor Taylor said, ‘The specificity and the privacy of this dedication, in this copy alone, feels mischievous and risque. The moment Nell’s name is attached to this book full of naked people being revealed and undressed, it’s impossible not to read it differently. It’s a book that suddenly becomes erotically charged through its connection with Nell.

To read the full article please click here.

Professor Taylor has appeared twice on the popular BBC podcast ‘Betwixt the Sheets’, once to talk about Nell Gwyn and again to talk about King Charles II’s many mistresses. To listen please click here.