Sex Play

by Dr David Delvin, with illustrations by Lynn Paula Russell and Monica Guevara

Brand new ER Books exclusive...

...Emily Ford introduces the world's first truly sexy guide to making love!

Order one of 84 cards or prints from this title in our Print Room

In my early twenties, I worked in a quiet, high-brow book shop in downtown Los Angeles, and I noticed that Americans had a penchant for books on "self improvement" and men for "how-to-do" books on sex in particular. If I could have had a dime for every one I sold I'd probably be the proud owner of a Lear jet by now.

• How good lovers become great lovers
• All you need to know about the little blue pill: Viagra's pros and cons explained
• Everything, from finger and tongue techniques to the best sex gadgets, lovingly described and illustrated
• Where to find the G-spot (not to mention the U-spot and the S-zone) and what to do when you find it!

Two things struck me about these books: firstly, any male improvement on the all-too-standard 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' performance had to be a Good Thing and yet, where artists' drawings were used, how dreadfully unsexy these illustrations tended to be. Maybe the artists concerned were better at illustrating computer manuals or perhaps they had been instructed by nervous publishers to tone down the erotic aspects of their art.

Less a manual, more a labour of love

Little did I imagine then that I would be announcing Erotic Review Books's new illustrated series on the subject of sexual techniques: The Art of Love and the first book in that series: Sex Play.

A chance encounter with the distinguished sexologists, Dr. David Delvin and his beautiful wife, Christine, led to a serendipitous discussion about a book which we had both, independently, had in mind. David had written a fine and authoritative text on sexual foreplay that was crying out for equally brilliant illustrations. I, too, thought there was a need for a beautifully and sexily illustrated book on foreplay, indeed a whole series of books on erotic technique. 'How interesting,' said David, 'did you have anyone in mind?'

Lynn Paula Russell draws from life!

Well, it so happened that I did: Lynn Paula Russell. Her boundless enthusiasm and propensity for trying out, alone or with others, most of the sexual acts that she portrays was perfect for a very informed pictorial representation of the good Doctor's advice. But would she be game for such a demanding undertaking?

Of course she was; Paula Russell is not a woman to do things by halves. To prepare for The Art of Love - Sex Play, she got together with a small group of intimate friends and, with dedication and devotion, tried out every technique and position described in this book. The resulting drawings are not just technically superb (a veritable feast for the eyes of colour and line) - they are a thrilling evocation of couples in the grip of sexual arousal. Although Paula shared with two girlfriends the delicious responsibility of trying out the various techniques, the main burden of the job fell upon her delectable shoulders - as you will see.

Monica Guevara does the detailed bits...

And another favourite ER Books artist, Monica Guevara, agreed to produce a large number of highly detailed, smaller drawings for the more technical and anatomical details; such as not just finding the G-spot but what to do with it when you find it; the U-spot and - of course - let's not forget the S-zone.

Sex Play, is a wonderful delineation, both scientific and artistic, of the hors d'oeuvres of love-making. Not the main course, perhaps, but as that which precedes the main course, it is just as important and, if well done, an enormous enhancement.

The first genuinely sexy guide to advanced lovemaking

Having played a small part in its conception, I'm very, very pleased with the resulting book; it's sassy, sexy and sophisticated and assumes (thank goodness with a membership like ours) that its readers are too. For me, and I hope also for you, The Art of Love is the first of its kind, as it uniquely follows information with stimulation, and text with revealing illustrations of the most graphic sort. And it assumes that women - and this certainly applies to many of our readers - are as interested in stimulating their men to equal heights of passion as to achieve themselves. That it is as grown up to receive as to give.

But it's not all up to us girls - as no less than Erasmus, the humanist and philosopher, pointed out in his Praise of Folly (1509):

'...a man must hug, and dandle, and tickle, and play a hundred little tricks with his bed-fellow when he is disposed to make that use of her that Nature designed her for.'

Now, if he felt Sex Play was so important - who am I to argue?