According to late Greek sources on classical mythology, Astyanassa (Ancient Greek: Ἀστυάνασσα) was Helen of Troy’s maid. The 10th century scholar Photius, citing Ptolemy Chennus, mentions the story that Aphrodite lent her magical embroidered band (kestos himas) to Helen, to ensure that Paris would fall in love with her, and that Astyanassa stole it.[1] The Byzantine dictionary Suda adds the legend that Astyanassa was the first erotic author (in a tradition that included two other women writers, Philaenis and Elephantis): she wrote a book about sexual positions.[2]
Robert Desnos
Robert Desnos (French: [dɛsno:s]; 4 July 1900 – 8 June 1945) was a French surrealist poet who played a key role in the Surrealist movement of his day. Robert Desnos was born in Paris on 4 July 1900, the son of a licensed dealer in game and poultry at the Halles market. Other sources state Desnos […]
Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond (born 2 March 1945, Hilborough, Norfolk, England) is a former glamour model and actress. She became a British sex symbol in the 1970s for her appearances in numerous risqué plays, comedy revues, magazines and films. Richmond was born Julia Rosamund Harrison in Hilborough, Norfolk, the daughter of the Reverend John Harrison.[1] Read: Erskine […]
John Stevenson (writer)
John “Steve” Stevenson (born 1930) is a British writer who, under the pen name Marcus van Heller, wrote erotic fiction for the Traveller’s Companion series of Olympia Press publisher (1955–1961). Later he also wrote under the pen name Stephen John. In 1954, at the age of 23, John Stevenson arrived for a sojourn in Paris, […]
Catherine Robbe-Grillet
Catherine Robbe-Grillet (French: [ʁɔb ɡʁi.jɛ]; née Rstakian; born 24 September 1930) is a French theatre and cinema actress, photographer, and writer of Armenian descent who has published sadomasochistic writings under the pseudonyms Jean de Berg and Jeanne de Berg. She was born in Paris, where she attended secondary school and high school. Read: Maya Banks
Mary Anne Mohanraj
Mary Anne Amirthi Mohanraj (born July 26, 1971) is an American writer, editor, and academic of Sri Lankan birth. Mohanraj was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka but moved to the United States at the age of two and grew up in New Britain, Connecticut.[1] Read: Mary Anne Mohanraj