Erotic literature is genre that uses eroticism in written form, to arouse, amuse or instruct the reader about sexual practices. Erotic literature was not seen as a major problem before the invention of printing, that brought with it both a greater market and increasing restrictions - including censorship and legal restraints. Because of this, much of the production of this type of material became clandestine and many authors have remained in anonymity. Literary critic August Nemo has selected the following short stories for this book: Daphnis and Chloe by Longus, Idylll by Guy de Maupassant, Beatrice Palmato by Edith Wharton, Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, The Lustful Turk by Anonymous, Sub-Umbra by Anonymous and How He Lost His Whiskers: An Episode in the Life of Steve Broad by Anonymous.