Phoenix, £7.99

History Of A Pleasure Seeker, By Richard Mason

 

Piet Barol, the pleasure seeker of the title, has known from adolescence that he is "extremely attractive to most women and to many men".

An accomplished pianist, draughtsman and lover, he applies for the role of tutor to the disturbed son of a wealthy Amsterdam hotelier.

Newly installed in this gilded cage, he soon finds that the entire family, from wife to manservant, is in need of his healing touch.

Tirelessly inventive, Mason succeeds in constructing an entire erotic adventure around a Dutch family's flagging libido. Upstanding stuff.

Arts and Entertainment
Top of the world: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Kelly and Josh Brolin in ‘Everest’
film review
Arts and Entertainment
The Corrs will tour the UK in 2016

music
Arts and Entertainment
In the line of fire: ‘Frontline Fighting: the Brits Battling Isis’
TV reviewThese foolhardy fighters might not be covered in glory but they're hard to forget
Arts and Entertainment
Jenna Coleman stars as the Time Lord's companion Clara in Doctor Who

TV
Arts and Entertainment
Making waves: Bear Grylls goes searching for grey seals off the coast of Wales

TV review
News
Golden dawn: looking east across the Taklamakan Desert from the Xianjiang autonomous region; beyond lies China proper, and the Pacific
Books
Arts and Entertainment
Go fish: crew member Stevie with a hake onboard the ‘Govenek of Ladram’
TVThe format now goes fishing in the Atlantic in Channel 4's The Catch
Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps?
Arts and Entertainment

ebooksNow available in paperback
Arts and Entertainment

ebooks
Latest stories from i100
Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps?
SPONSORED FEATURES

ES Rentals

    Independent Dating
    and  

    By clicking 'Search' you
    are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    Five things Jeremy Corbyn has got right and five he has got wrong

    Five things Corbyn has got right - and five he has got wrong

    A week after the radical left-winger won Labour leadership, we look back at an eventful seven days
    Isis escape: One Yazidi woman's horrific ordeal and miraculous rescue from the hands of one of the caliphate's most-feared leaders

    Escape from Isis

    One Yazidi woman's horrific ordeal - and miraculous rescue - from the hands of one of the caliphate's most-feared leaders
    Tim Farron interview: The Lib Dem leader on fighting back after his party's worst ever year

    Tim Farron on fighting back after his party's worst ever year

    The Lib Dem leader is relishing the prospect of this weekend's annual conference
    Good Energy: Juliet Davenport on getting 100,000 households to sign up to her cheaper, greener deal

    'I had an eco-eureka moment'

    How an Oxford physics graduate got 100,000 households to sign up to her cheaper, greener deal
    Mmusi Maimane: South Africa opposition leader vows to 'stand up against President Zuma'

    South Africa opposition leader vows to 'stand up against Zuma'

    Mmusi Maimane is promising to wage war on alleged corruption blighting the ruling ANC. He reveals how he plans to take on a President who has already 'dodged' hundreds of cases
    An appreciation of Diana Vreeland: The scarlet empress changed the way we value fashion itself

    An appreciation of Diana Vreeland

    The scarlet empress changed the way we value fashion itself
    Simon Fletcher: From communism to Jeremy Corbyn's consigliere

    Simon Fletcher: From communism to Corbyn's consigliere

    A veteran of hard-left splinter groups has taken the flak for a difficult week - but allies say he's nothing if not a survivor
    Finally I get to judge other people's barbecues in an official capacity

    Finally I get to judge other people's BBQs in an official capacity

    Grace Dent's invitation to the Kansas City Barbecue Society arrived this month
    Fashion mavericks from Anna Piaggi to Isabella Blow weren't afraid to rip up the rule book

    Fashion mavericks rip up the rule book

    Fashion's mavericks continue to influence designers with their uncompromising – and eccentric – style. Be brave and do likewise, says Rebecca Gonsalves
    Mark Hix recipes: Crunchy and bursting with colour - sweetcorn brightens a late-summer dish

    Mark Hix cooks with sweetcorn

    Corn is such a flexible ingredient and can bring flavour and sweetness to anything from snacks and breads to vegetable side dishes
    12 best leaf blowers

    Ready for autumn: 12 best leaf blowers

    Be prepared for the big fall with these handy gadgets
    England vs Fiji player ratings: Red Rose make unconvincing start to Rugby World Cup 2015 despite bonus point victory

    England vs Fiji player ratings

    Red Rose make unconvincing start to Rugby World Cup despite bonus point victory
    RWC 2015: England will draw solace from the fact they can only improve

    England will draw solace from the fact they can only improve

    Stuart Lancaster's men must do better despite opening victory, says Ian Herbert
    Claudio Ranieri has found the way for fast and fit Leicester City to exploit weaknesses - Danny Higginbotham

    Ranieri has found the way for fast and fit Leicester City to exploit weaknesses

    The Italian's 4-4-2 is built on compact defending and counter-attacking pace, says Danny Higginbotham
    8 charts that reveal what people think about Jeremy Corbyn on the issues that really matter

    8 charts that reveal what people think about Corbyn...

    On the issues that really matter