This book was not very satisfactory. It was well enough written but, in my opinion, it was gutted. That is to say a major section in the middle of the book was missing or never written. There was a few paragraphs used as a bridge for the parts of the book that were not extant but they hardly took the place of the material that was not there.

I believe, relying only on my sometimes faulty memory, that the missing writing does exist, perhaps written by another writer but I can not be sure. At any rate the book is unsatisfying. In addition, I thought the ending was rather abrupt but that might be sour grapes.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend the book unless you can get it for free. ( )

The Grove Press editions of this work, dating from 1970 and later, are the best known, but hard to find. The story, set in America, and probably by an American author, is curiously attractive, even hypnotic, and it concerns Edith Calhoun’s fevered desire to be spanked and otherwise roughly treated by a dominant male. She mistakenly boards an overnight train, occupying the suite intended for a man who proves to be a long-estranged cousin rather than her husband of the same name, and she discovers that this is the man who can satisfy all her ‘strange desires’, replete with humiliations such as performing for his manservant. She abandons her husband and carries on with her travels with her new man. This main plot is complemented by a wealth of detailed reminiscences which go some way to explaining her predilections. These include domination, F/F interludes, and voyeuristic scenarios. The book’s plot, scenario and style are unique in the genre, and make it one of the classics. ( )