Jill Lewis has shared her memorable experience of conducting research on erotic literature in the British Museum's Reading Room during the early 1970s. Her account, prompted by a recent Guardian article, sheds light on the institution's past handling of sensitive materials.
Requesting Erotic Surrealist Literature
Lewis, pursuing a PhD on French surrealist poet Paul Éluard, requested Robert Benayoun's book Erotique de Surréalisme at the British Museum's library. Instead of receiving the book directly, she was handed a card bearing the word 'FIE!' and directed to the service desk.
Supervised Reading Experience
From the service desk, Lewis was escorted to a small adjacent room. An elderly male employee brought her the book and then sat at a raised desk to supervise her reading. This unusual arrangement highlights the museum's cautious approach to erotic materials at the time.
Reflections on a Bygone Practice
Lewis survived the reading and found the experience illuminating. She expressed fondness for the word 'Fie!', now sadly neglected but potentially useful in today's world. The British Museum's Reading Room, once a hub for scholars, has since undergone changes in its policies and accessibility.
