This exotically produced hardback is the kind of book one would not wish to waste much papyrus on. Filled with large size colour pictures of erotic art, presumably done in the miniature art format of the Mughal and Rajasthani schools, the reader-spectator who wishes for more academic information is left clueless about the time of composition and the regions to which these belong (there is only a list of collections from which these have been taken on p. 189). I have personally counted these as there is no list available and there are about 125 proper paintings, other than the many figures such as that of Krishna that appear to have been lifted from larger canvases.There are also predictably a few sculptural reliefs, presumably from Khajuraho (ago, this is not specified!) that provide relief fromk the miniature overdose. The ‘Introduction’ attempts a long-winded explanation that appears to read like an apology for the theme. The subtitle ‘Sublimo Beatitudo’ says it all.
We are told about civilizations; quest for happiness, the views of the Greek philosophers, Aristotle and Epicurus on happiness, and about how Indians have always known that happiness was a prerequisite for happiness. The four-fold Greek understanding of bliss, with sublimo beatitudo or perfect happiness that is suffused with goodness, beauty, truth and love is the premise for the author’s understanding of erotic literature.