The Adulterer and Kama

`Until recent centuries-when Indian society turned prudish and hypocritical-the sexual sensibilities of society were derived from the kamashastras, which give sexuality pride of place in human experience And in the kamashastras, it appears that adultery is considered almost a prerequisite for good, uninhibited sex that satisfies both partners. In this delightfully mischievous book, a celebrated scholar of Indian art, aesthetics and sexuality brings us a selection of images from pre-modern India of men and women engaged in sex that is most probably adulterous: married men and women-and courtesans-having quick or leisurely secret liaisons. With a brilliant introduction providing the context, Alka Pande gives us thrilling visual evidence of secret, subversive love.